Varazze

Access

The municipality is easily accessible. By car, take the Genoa-Ventimiglia motorway Genoa-Ventimiglia (exit Varazze); by train, it is served by the Genoa-Savona-Ventimiglia line, with the station located a short distance from the centre. The nearest airports are Genoa Cristoforo Colombo (22 km) and Albenga (50 km).

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Introduction

Varazze is a municipality in the province of Savona, in Liguria, lying along the Riviera delle Palme. It rises in a wide inlet between Punta della Mola and Punta dell'Aspera, at the foot of Mount Béigua, which dominates the coastal landscape at 1287 metres above sea level. The climate is mild all year round: the Béigua massif protects the coast from the cold north winds, while summer sea breezes mitigate temperatures, making Varazze a pleasant resort all year round.

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Description

Its territory, included in the Béigua Regional Natural Park (UNESCO Geopark), alternates between pebble and sandy beaches and hillsides covered with Mediterranean scrub. A network of over five hundred kilometres of footpaths stretches behind the town, linking the sea to the Apennine ridge, offering visitors hiking itineraries, nature trails and sweeping views of the Ligurian Sea.
The origins of Varazze date back to Roman times: in the first century there was a small shipbuilding centre called Ad Navalia, a name that reflects the seafaring vocation of the place, from which the medieval toponym Varagine ("place where ships are launched") also derived. In the Middle Ages the village was long disputed between Savona and Genoa for its strategic importance; from the 12th century it became a fief of the Marquises of Bosco and then of Ponzone, until it passed under the Republic of Genoa in the 13th century. The navigator Lanzerotto Malocello, originally from Varazze, was among the first Europeans to discover the Canary Islands archipelago in 1312, baptising the island of Lanzarote with his name.
In the 19th century, the village received city status (1864) and saw the birth of the Baglietto shipyards, renowned for the construction of sailing ships and later yachts and military vessels, which contributed substantially to the economic development of the area. The current economy still integrates the shipbuilding tradition with tourism, pleasure boating and local craft activities.
The historic centre retains its medieval layout with characteristic Ligurian caruggi, small squares and colourful houses. Strolling along Via del Leudo, the Molo dei Gozzi and the seafront promenade, one perceives the link between the city and its naval history. Among the most heartfelt events are the patronal feast of Saint Catherine of Siena, on 30 April, and the Palio dei Sestieri, a maritime re-enactment that enlivens the Riviera every summer.
Varazze also offers interesting opportunities for those who enjoy outdoor activities: from trekking in the Béigua Geopark to mountain biking and water sports such as surfing, sailing and diving. The combination of sea and mountains, combined with its strategic location a few kilometres from Savona and Genoa, makes it an ideal starting point for exploring the Riviera di Ponente.

Information

Area: 48 sq km
Altitude: 10m
Maximum elevation: Monte Béigua (1287m)
 Number of inhabitants: 13467
Name in dialect: Väze
Inhabitants name:Varazzini or Varazzesi
Patron Saint: St. Catherine of Siena (30 April)
 Internet site: www.comune.varazze.sv.it
Webcam: www.varazzewebcam.en
Bordering municipalities: Celle Ligure, Cogoleto, Sassello, Stella
 Villages and hamlets: Alpicella, Cantalupo, Casanova, Castagnabuona, Faje, Invrea, Pero