A famous seaside resort in the province of Savona, located in a cove between Punta della Mola and Punta della Aspera, Varazze offers a modern tourist port, long beaches of different nature, many fully equipped bathing facilities, a long beach promenade shaded by palm trees and a picturesque old town centre, that dates to the XI century. The ancient village, surrounded by fortified walls had five gates and featured wonderful gardens and lemon groves. The only traces of the ancient walls that surrounded the village evidence their existence, whilst the new roads and the expansion of housing have changed the original layout.
The nearby Regional Nature Park of Beigua, the European Walk, that connects Cogoleto with Varazze, embellished by rocky cliffs and the Mediterranean vegetation, is famous for the plain Invrea, home of a small menhir and an important destination of trekking trips, from where it is possible to admire a wonderful panorama over the town and the whole coastline. In Alpicella do not miss the permanent exhibition of archaeological matters with exhibits from various periods.
The first settlement was built near a Roman one, known as Ad Marine and the earliest traces of the town's existence are mentioned for the first time in an official document of the X century under the name Varagine, famous for its shipbuilding. The town was contended by Genoa and Savona, until it became part of the Ponzone Family possessions. In the XIII century it became a Town with its own Council, but in the same period it was sold to Genoa and became a Captaincy and started the expanding of its territory. Under the rule of Genoa, Varazze followed their fate, until they had the chance to have their own statutes, and with the conquest of the Region by Napoleon, it was annexed to the First French Empire.
Not to miss:
The Parish Church of Sant'Ambrogio, built during the Middle Ages, it presents a rich Baroque façade with statue decorations and flanked by a Gothic bell tower. Inside a polyptych of the artist Barbagelata and a table of Cambiaso.
The Church of Saints Nazario and Celso dating back to the XVI century façade.
The Church of Santa Maria di Latronorio dating from the XII century.
The Sanctuary of Santa Caterina da Siena of the XVII century.
The Convent of the Capuchin friars of the XVII century.
The Church of San Domenico, erected on an existing building of the XV century and preserves inside a XVI century altarpiece and fine frescoes.
The Oratory of San Bartolomeo, which houses a XVI century altarpiece by the painter Piaggio and an artwork by the sculptor Maragliano.
The Menhir on top of plain Invrea.
The archaeological exhibition in the village of Alpicella.
Numerous churches, chapels and shrines in different localities.