Liguria · Genova
Santa Margherita Ligure
The Tigullio town that kept its fishing port while the world drove past on the way to Portofino two kilometers further.
33 km / 21 mi
Nearest hub (Genova)
8,515
Population
Apr–Oct
Best time to visit
Recognised as
Why come
Santa Margherita Ligure sits on the inner curve of the Tigullio gulf, 35 kilometers southeast of Genova, between Camogli and Portofino. The two medieval burghs of Pescino and Corte were unified in 1813 under Napoleonic rule as Porto Napoleone, then renamed when the Kingdom of Sardinia took the coast back in 1815. Genoese architecture survived the merger: trompe-l'oeil facades on the seafront, the 1658 Basilica of Santa Margherita d'Antiochia with its baroque interior of marble and crystal, the 1550 castle built against North African corsair raids by the architect who built Rapallo's. Villa Durazzo, raised in 1678 as a Genoese summer residence, holds three hectares of terraced gardens above the harbor. The port still works fishing boats alongside the yachts. Most day-trippers continue to Portofino. The ones who stop find a town that uses its seafront rather than performing it.
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Gallery
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Known for
Basilica di Santa Margherita d'Antiochia
Baroque parish basilica from 1658, crystal chandeliers and gilded statuary, dominating Piazza Caprera in the centro storico.
Villa Durazzo-Centurione
Genoese summer villa from 1678 with frescoed Piano Nobile apartments and a three-hectare terraced park above the Tigullio gulf.
Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure
Coastal fort raised by the Republic of Genoa in 1550 against Saracen and Barbary raids, designed by the architect of Rapallo's castle.
Parco Regionale di Portofino
Regional natural park covering the headland behind the town, walking trails connecting Santa Margherita to Portofino and Camogli.
Abbazia della Cervara
Benedictine abbey from 1361 along the coastal road to Portofino, with cloister and Renaissance gardens facing the sea.
When to visit
Best months · Apr–Oct
- J
- F
- M
- A
- M
- J
- J
- A
- S
- O
- N
- D
- Best
- Hot or crowded
- Quiet
- Mostly closed
April through June and September into October are the strongest months. The sea is warm enough from late May, the Tigullio quiets after September, and Villa Durazzo's gardens are at their best in shoulder season. July and August fill the seafront, the Portofino ferries run packed, and the inland streets keep a few degrees of shade. November through March is open year-round but slower: many hotels close in January, the fishing fleet runs through winter regardless, and the gambero rosso prawns are at their best from autumn. Rain comes in November and February. The basilica still holds the feast of Santa Margherita on 20 July with a sea procession.
How to get there
From Genova, Santa Margherita Ligure is roughly 33 km by road. Allow about 28–40 minutes depending on traffic and route choice (autostrada vs scenic).
Drive time to the nearest gateway airports
- Genoa49m
- Florence / Pisa2h 1m
- Turin2h 52m
Elevation 13 m
Reachable by train
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