Boccadasse, Genoa

Set within a rocky inlet along the Ligurian coast, Boccadasse preserves the form and rhythm of an old fishing village. Low, pastel-colored houses cluster tightly around a pebble beach where boats rest on the stones and nets dry in the sun. Worn cobblestones and narrow alleys thread between staircases and doorways, revealing glimpses of the sea and leading to tucked-away trattorias and ice cream shops. The Church of Saint Anthony of Padua anchors the cove, facing the water on one side and opening onto Piazza Edoardo Firpo on the other, with views stretching toward the Promontory of Portofino. From the square, a stairway and the narrow Via Aurora provide direct access to the shoreline. Along the shore and within the alleys, restaurants, ice cream shops, bakeries, bars, and small galleries maintain a continuous flow of daily life within the historic setting.

Approaching from Corso Italia, the route unfolds through layers of Genoese architecture. Liberty-style villas line the promenade, followed by rationalist structures by Luigi Carlo Daneri and the art déco villa Canali-Gaslini by Gino Coppedè. Just inland, the Abbey of San Giuliano, founded in 1240, and the nearby San Giuliano Fort reflect earlier stages of the city’s development. The path continues toward Capo Santa Chiara, where a winding lane connects Boccadasse to Vernazzola. The cliffside is marked by the turreted silhouette of Türcke Castle, standing above the Gulf of Paradise. At Punta Vagno, remnants of the 19th-century Vagno battery still cling to the rocks, and above them, a small lighthouse installed in 1931 continues to operate.