Savona, what to see and do: 11 travel tips

Located on the beautiful Riviera Ligure di Ponente, Savona is a port city that combines history, culture, and natural beauty. The city is dominated by the majestic Priamar Fortress, an imposing construction that offers panoramic views of the sea. Strolling through the historic center, one can admire architectural gems such as the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption and the Leon Pancaldo Tower, the city’s landmark. Narrow, cobblestone streets lead to picturesque squares.

But Savona is not only history and art. The city boasts some of the most beautiful beaches in Liguria, with golden sand and crystal clear waters that invite relaxation and water sports. Some have been awarded Blue Flag status for the quality of their waters. In addition, lovers of good food will find a paradise of flavors in Savona. The local gastronomic tradition includes delicious dishes such as farinata, a savory cake made from chickpea flour, and the famous pesto alla Genovese (which is also eaten in Savona), prepared with fresh basil, garlic, pine nuts, and Parmesan cheese. Local markets and artisan stores offer typical products and fresh ingredients, perfect for taking a piece of Savona home with you: above all, ceramics. And, by the way, be sure to visit the Ceramics Museum, which celebrates the ancient ceramic tradition of nearby Albissola, or take a stroll along the waterfront. Easily accessible Savona is also a great starting point for exploring other fascinating locations in Liguria, such as Cinque Terre, Genoa, and Portofino. Its strategic location and well-connected transportation network make it easy to get around and discover the region’s hidden treasures. Here are 11 things to see and do in Savona.

1. Savona’s Ceramics

Savona is famous for its blue and white ceramics. The appeal of Savona ceramics, a centuries-old art(read a lengthy report on Savona ceramics here) still stands for quality. Its roots are in the Savona area, which has naturally become the Bay of Ceramics, a project that unites Savona, Albissola Marina, Albisola Superiore, and Celle Ligure. Don’t miss the Museum of Ceramics in the heart of the capital, where you can try out the workshops, also for families. Don’t miss the workshops of master potters and Albissola’s ancient manufactories, as well as the Majolica Festival in May, when pottery becomes scenic with pottery wheel exhibitions and monumental kilns. To learn more, visit the Ceramics Museum website.

2. Sistine Chapel

Savona is home to a second Sistine Chapel, built by Sixtus IV, the same pope who commissioned the chapel in Rome. Unfortunately, the magnificent original frescoes are no longer visible except for a few small portions. The Chapel was in fact heavily restored in the Rococo style in 1764 at the behest of the last descendant of the family. In 1814 the Della Rovere Polyptych by Giovanni Mazzone was purchased by the Louvre Museum and is now in Avignon. Then don’t forget to visit the Cathedral as well. For information, visit the official website.

3. The Savona Picture Gallery.

A museum with a dual soul. The Pinacoteca tells through art the history of the area from the 14th century to the 19th century, with works by great masters of ancient art, above all Vincenzo Foppa, the main master of the Lombard 15th century, who was also active in Liguria. In addition, the Pinacoteca also houses the Milani Cardazzo Collection. Milena Milani was one of the great writers of the 20th century, engaged in the artistic circles in which history was made. Her voice is kept alive by the Foundation of the same name, which collects the works she collected over the course of her life together with her partner Carlo Cardazzo, on display today in the Savona Art Gallery. On display are, among others, Pablo Picasso’s famous Portrait of Milena, Lucio Fontana’s Portrait of Milena Milani, works by Magritte, De Chirico, Jorn, Dubuffet, Twombly, Man Ray, Sassu and others. For more information, visit the Pinacoteca’s website.

4. The Priamar Fortress

Explore the Priamar, one of the most impressive fortifications in the Mediterranean. Almost 500 years old and towering over the sea with a 360-degree view: this is the Priamar, one of the most majestic fortified structures in the entire Mediterranean. It was built between 1542 and 1544 to defend the territory from possible attacks, but destroyed one of the most important districts of the medieval city, inhabited since the Bronze Age, around 1600 BC. Among its various uses was as a prison (Giuseppe Mazzini was imprisoned here). Today, it is a center of cultural life and offers a panorama that embraces, at a glance, the sea and the mountains, the city and its port. Not to be missed: a visit to the basement. The tour takes about an hour and a half and it is recommended to have a flashlight and wear comfortable shoes. In addition, the Priamar is also home to the city’s Archaeological Museum. For information, visit the museum’s website.

5. Blue Flag Beaches

Savona and its province boast as many as 15 Blue Flag beaches, the highest number in all of Italy. In fact, the Savona area has long held the record as the province with the highest number of beaches and landings awarded Blue Flags, recognition for seaside resorts that comply with strict criteria for sustainable land management such as water quality, enhancement of nature areas, and unrestricted access for all. Here, moreover, they say “going to the beach” and not “on the beach.” Among the award-winning beaches, the Fornaci beach, located in a working-class neighborhood of the city, stands out. In addition, the Port of the Dock, in the heart of the historic city, is an award-winning landing place. These beaches are synonymous with clean water, accessibility and sustainable land management. For more information, visit the municipal tourism board’s website with the best beaches to discover.

6. Savona’s Chinotto

Did you know that chinotto is Savona’s most distinctive food product? Then taste the authentic Savona chinotto, a unique citrus fruit and Slow Food Presidium. Imported from China in the 1500s, this fruit is handcrafted to create drinks, syrups, liqueurs and jams. Savona’s chinotto is processed using an artisanal method that traces a centuries-old tradition. Because chinotto is not eaten in its natural state but must be processed into drinks, syrups, liqueurs, and jams. There are several places where you can taste it in the form of a drink with a bitter aftertaste, including the old Besio pastry shop in Piazza Mameli, which has guarded the secrets of candying and processing chinotto since 1860.

7. The History of Cinematographic Film.

At the end of 1917 in Ferrania, a village in the Savona area just a stone’s throw from Cairo Montenotte, the joint stock company FILM (Fabbrica Italiana Lamine Milano) was established. In 1923 FILM presented the first production of positive cinematographic film at the Turin Exposition. From that moment on, the word film became everyone’s word, also abetted by the English meaning (film originally meant a thin layer of material, a membrane). On Ferrania film the great masters of Italian cinema such as Pasolini, Lattuada, Fellini, Rossellini stamped their work. La ciociara or The Gospel According to Matthew were made on Ferrania films. In the 1960s, at the height of the economic boom, Ferrania was together with Kodak, Fuji, and Agfa, one of only four factories in the world producing color film, for cinema and photography. Today a museum opened in 2018 tells the story of this remarkable factory. To learn more, visit the official website.

8. The White Farinata

Try the white farinata, a unique Savona specialty. Unlike the more common chickpea farinata, the white farinata is crunchy and soft at the same time. The perfect white farinata must have the right texture, be crispy but soft at the same time, and be made in a dedicated oven at a temperature of 400 degrees. The same oven cannot be used for pizza. To find out more about white porridge and typical Savona products Discover this 500-year-old historic treat. For more details, visit the tourism board’s website.

9. All About Apple Museum

The unique All About Apple Museum brings together almost all of Apple’s production from its early days in 1976 to the present day, more than 10,000 pieces. To date, it is the best-stocked Apple museum in the world and allows visitors to explore firsthand the machines on display-more than a hundred of them, on a rotating basis-all powered up and running, a unique feature. The collection brings together personal computers, monitors, printers, minor peripherals (keyboards, mice, floppy drives, hard drives, accessories...), manuals, brochures, posters, various software titles in cd-roms and floppy disks, packages, prototypes, pins, and a host of other accessories. In addition, an area is devoted to non-Apple machines: a tribute to the home and personal computers of the pre ms-dos era. Fun fact: The museum’s working group was invited to Cupertino headquarters, where they were received by Apple executives. For information, visit the official website.

10. The Bell for Peace

Every day at 6 p.m., the bell at the War Memorial strikes 21 chimes, one for each letter of the alphabet, in memory of the victims of all wars. Fun fact: It is the highest rated Savona attraction on TripAdvisor.

11. The Cetacean Sanctuary.

From the port of Savona, located in the historic center, depart for daily whalewatching excursions to the Pelagos Cetacean Sanctuary, of which Savona is one of the most important centers. The marine area in front is among the richest areas of life in the Mediterranean, and it is carefully monitored with the goal of maintaining habitats particularly favorable to marine mammals. Savona is home to one of the most influential international organizations in this field: the CIMA Foundation, which is involved in scientific research, technological development and higher education in engineering and environmental sciences. Areas of work include marine ecosystems. Fun fact: Every year the Foundation with its research vessels travels miles in the Mediterranean to monitor the health and sightings of cetaceans. In 2023, 2,900 kilometers were traveled and more than 360 sightings recorded, the majority of which (192) involved groups of striped dolphin, followed by 100 sightings of fin whale, 55 of zyphium (a species that is difficult to study because of the long periods it spends in deep dive), 10 of sperm whale, 3 of pilot whales, and 2 of bottlenose dolphins. To find out more about the CIMA Foundation and the valuable research work. To learn more, visit the CIMA Foundation website.

Savona, what to see and do: 11 travel tips

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