Santa Margherita Ligure

History

Main sights

• Castello di Santa Margherita Ligure, built by the Republic of Genoa in 1550 as defence against the increasing attacks of North African pirates. It was designed by the same architect of the Castle of Rapallo. After World War I it was restored and entitled to the Italian victims of that conflict.
• Basilica of St. Margaret of Antiochia, built from 1658 on the remains of a 13th-century church.
• Abbazia della Cervara, a historically relevant abbey on the road to Portofino.
• Villa Durazzo complex, including two patrician villas, a 16th-century castle and 17th-century park.

  Outlying districts ([frazione])

• Paraggi was a small village of fishermen and millers. It is located along the "Costa dei Delfini", halfway between Santa Margherita and Portofino. It is about from Santa Margherita Ligure, reachable by bus or by boat.
• Nozarego is a natural terrace over the Bay of Tigullio. Here there is the church of Santa Maria Assunta with the cobbled square in typical ligurian. From Nozarego also leave several trails in the Park of Portofino.
• San Lorenzo della Costa is located on the slopes of the mountain, to the north, along the Aurelia road that leads to Genoa. There is a Flemish triptych in the local 13th-century church.