Bonassola stands in a tranquil bay crowned by seven ancient and polychrome hamlets immersed in the Mediterranean maquis. Set in the heart of the Riviera di Levante, halfway between the Tigullio and La Spezia, the centre (pop. 1,000) is endowed with excellent connections (car, train, and public road transport) as well as a tourist information point.

Renowned for the wideness of its relaxing beach, Bonassola boasts an interesting past (showing in its pleasant historical quarter, too) rich in fights and pirates’ incursions – the terrible raid of May 1560 saw the abduction of some unfortunate bonassolesi. Chaos came to an end with the Genoese domination and the construction of a defensive castle, partially demolished for the building of the railway track.
The borgo developed thanks to fishing (a boat figures also in the local coat-of-arms), mulberry-growing and – last but not least – on vineyards and olive-growing, still producing extraordinary gourmet treats. The sea, repeatedly awarded the international F.E.E. Blue Flag, offers the charm of its clear, blue waters. Bolognese painter Antonio Discovolo (1874-1956) fell under the spell of this medley of colours, atmospheres and silences, and hosted into his Bonassola villa an artistic coterie featuring also play writer Sem Benelli (who lived in a Gothic-Art Nouveau castle along the Via Aurelia in Zoagli) and Futurist artist Alf Gaudenzi. Live a vacation by the sea rich in culture, sports and excursions. Underwater activities, tennis, trails (do not miss the itineraries to Mortaretto, Levanto, Framura), gastronomy and nice accommodation facilities compose your own kaleidoscope of emotions and experiences.
Enjoy the happy bustle of the Thursday market, rich in stalls and goods. Highlights include a visit to the church of Santa Caterina (feasted on November 25th), the feast of the Madonna del Rosario (1st Sunday in October) and the wonderful excursion to the panoramic Madonnina della Punta (restored in 1932), an intimate porticoed church high on the promontory. A short distance away stands the beautiful botanic garden of Villa Peverati, whereas right from the Punta stands a scenic trail to Framura, the next destination of your sentimental tour of Liguria