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AREA:
8 sq km.
POPULATION:
2,468 HEIGHT
FROM SEA LEVEL (m): 17 WEB
SITE:
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This
town lies in a small bay along the coastline between Chiavari and Rapallo,
at the mouth of the River Semorile. It was already a settlement in
pre-Roman times and well-known in mediaeval times for the production of
silks and velvets. Its original appearance was transformed by a number of
bombardments that took place during the second world war. Two watchtowers
to the east and west enclose the promenade excavated in the rock. The two
small beaches are pebbly. This is one of the most isolated villages along
the Riviera. If you approach it from inland you pass through the eastern
part of Portofino Park: you can follow a path leading from the upper ridge
to the Sanctuary of Montallegro, or you can make your way down towards the
sea through the chestnuts, acacia, olive, alder and oak trees, passing
through the hillside villages of Semorile, San Pietro and Sant'Ambrogio.
The so-called "five belltowers" itinerary comprises all of the
parish churches, some of which are very old. The painter Teramo Piaggio
was born in Zoagli around 1490: you can admire a triptych by this artist
in the church of San Pietro Rovereto. Ezra Pound lived in Sant'Ambrogio
and, not very far away, on the road to Chiavari, you can see the
turn-of-the-century villa of Sem Benelli, another internationally famous
writer who had ties with Liguria.
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