A picturesque Italian coastal town has been named the most beautiful in the world. Camogli, around 20 miles from Genoa in the north west of Italy, took the top spot in Architectural Digest’s ranking of the world’s most beautiful coastal cities. The town was ranked above Cape Town, Rio de Janiero and Hong Kong as one of the places which invite travellers to ‘discover their unique, storied allure’.
Situated on the Ligurian Riviera, average temperatures in the town reach 27C in the summer months. It is known as one of the most photographed towns in Italy for its colourful landscape, while the harbourfront is packed with restaurants and shops. Every year in early May, the Sagra del pesce festival is held to celebrate local fish products.
First arranged in 1952, the festival's main attraction is a 13-foot diameter frying pan which cooks three tonnes of fresh fish in a single day. Camogli is also one of the best Ligurian towns to watch the sunset, as the winding coastline turns towards the horizon. Its location means it is only a 20-minute train journey from Genoa, making it ideal for a day trip as well as a longer stay.
Alternatively, there is a ferry service into harbour which echoes Camogli’s long relationship with the Ligurian Sea. The town has a rich maritime history as a fishing village and trading hub dating back to ancient times. Its name literally means the ‘house of wives’ which comes from the fact that for centuries, the men of Camogli were away fishing at .