Loano

The sea has played a leading role in the history of Loano, and this is demonstrated by the places where this role has been consecrated. Maritime history buffs can head to the seafront to visit the Casetta (Little House) of the "Loano Sea Workers", the heir to three ancient associations: the "Mutual Aid Society of the Sea Captains of Loano" dating to 1882, the "Mutual Aid Society of Loano Fishermen" dating to 1911, and the "Union of Loano Sea Workers" established in 1921. Also located along the seafront is the "Marine Museum of Loano and Ponente Savonese", which houses relics from Loano's seafaring past that have also been exhibited for the Sea Exhibit. The interest noted here in maritime history is no accident, for until the second half of the nineteenth century, Loano was the home to numerous shipyards and most of the population made its living from the sea and at sea. Its most important festival also has a close bond with the sea. At the beginning of July, the feast of Our Lady of the Visitation, or the Festival of the Sea, is celebrated to commemgilthead seabream the city's salvation from raiding pirates in 1637. For the festival, the town is illuminated by thousands of candles that, from the windowsills of the houses, accompany the statue of Our Lady to the shore, followed by Baroque crucifixes borne on the fishermen's shoulders. Other festivals worth seeing if you want to combine your visit with a boating excursion are the Festival of the Basure in mid-August, featuring astrologers and fortune-tellers, and the summer Carneval. The buildings and churches of Loano are also among the most interesting in western Liguria: visitors can tour Palazzo Doria, now City Hall, the pentagonal city walls; the Oratorio dei Turchini (oratory), the eighteenth-century clock tower that is the symbol of Loano, the convent of Mount Carmel located on the hill of Borgo Castello, the church of San Martino (St. Martin) in Verzi, where you can stop to enjoy the view.