Portion of rustic house - San Bernardo - Zoagli

Situated halfway between Chiavari and Rapallo, Zoagli is a place inhabited for millennia: a prehistoric settlement, a fief of the Fieschi Family of Lavagna and, from the 13th century, part of the dominion of the Republic of Genoa. In that very period Zoagli became world-famous for producing precious silk velvets; weaving thus developed alongside seafaring. Even today, Zoagli’s coat of arms bears the symbolic colors of the two main confraternities: the blue of the sailors and the yellow of the weavers, with the image of the two Towers built in the 1500s to defend the village from pirate attacks. As early as the 19th century, Zoagli was a destination for elite tourism and it has maintained its tradition of discreet hospitality. It offers visitors striking landscapes that have captivated renowned artists such as Nietzsche, Kandinsky, Tosi, Sem Benelli, Ezra Pound. To this day Zoagli is marked by a calm, refined beauty, found in the creuze, small lanes running between the parks of villas and among the terraced olive groves, as well as along the Lungomare Canevaro, a rocky path winding over the cliffs close to the sea. Zoagli also preserves its charm below sea level; directly opposite the Rotonda Grande, at about 9 meters deep, stands the statue of the Madonna of the Sea, created by sculptor Marian Hastianatte. This work enriches the artistic and tourist heritage of the seaside village and provides an additional destination for underwater exploration enthusiasts. The square lined with lively cafés and restaurants, the headlands and the small coves set the scene for a peaceful holiday, yet one filled with great and small emotions.