Camogli (Italian: [kaˈmoʎʎi, -ˈmɔʎʎi]; Genoese: Camoggi [kaˈmudːʒi]) is a fishing village and tourist resort located on the west side of the peninsula of Portofino, on the Golfo Paradiso in the Riviera di Levante, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, northern Italy. As of 30 April 2017 its population was of 5,332. Camogli is one of the largest areas of the Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino, and a part of the Portofino Marine Protected Area.

Camogli
Camoggi (Ligurian)
Comune di Camogli
Camogli beach
Camogli beach
Flag of Camogli
Coat of arms of Camogli
Location of Camogli
Map
Camogli is located in Italy
Camogli
Camogli
Location of Camogli in Italy
Camogli is located in Liguria
Camogli
Camogli
Camogli (Liguria)
Coordinates: 44°21′N 9°9′E / 44.350°N 9.150°E / 44.350; 9.150
CountryItaly
RegionLiguria
Metropolitan cityGenoa (GE)
FrazioniRuta, San Fruttuoso, San Rocco
Government
 • MayorFrancesco Olivari
Area
 • Total
9.9 km2 (3.8 sq mi)
Elevation
9 m (30 ft)
Population
 (31 July 2024)[2]
 • Total
4,898
 • Density490/km2 (1,300/sq mi)
DemonymCamoglini or Camogliesi
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
16032
Dialing code0185
Patron saintN. S. del Boschetto
Saint day2 July
WebsiteOfficial website

History

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View of Camogli bay and port

The name of the town is of ancient, though of disputed origin.

A folk etymologic story suggests it comes from the shortened Casa de Moglie. When the ship captains sailed, they put their wives (mogli) in a sort of home for all of them (casa), and the town was well known for this.

In the late Middle Ages, Camogli was a considerable seaport. In its heyday, its fleet consisted of hundreds of Tall Ships, and it was called the "city of a thousand white sails". In 1798 the city hosted a large contingent of Napoleon's fleet, which was then beaten in the Egyptian waters of the Nile by Admiral Nelson. The prestigious naval college "Cristoforo Colombo" was founded in Camogli in 1874, named after the Genoese navigator Christopher Columbus.

In 1880, the former fishing village had, in a population of 12,000, 500 registered as ship captains. Camogli now relies mainly on tourism and is known for its colorful houses that line the beach. The house colors once helped the fishermen of Camogli find the way back to their port.

The local swimming club water polo RN Camogli has won several Italian championships and is known nationwide.

In February 2021, the cliff collapsed below the cemetery that is sited 70m above the water, and coffins fell into the sea. 11 caskets were recovered from the water, and more from the landslide.[3]

Trivia

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Camogli Hospital on the South Atlantic island of Tristan da Cunha is named after the town, to commemorate the fact that it was the home of Repetto and Gaetano Lavarello, who settled on the island in 1892.[4]

People

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Twin towns

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References

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  1. ^ "Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  2. ^ "Istat". Italian National Institute of Statistics. Istat. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  3. ^ Italian Riviera clifftop cemetery collapses into the Ligurian Sea, Associated Press / ABC News Online, 2021-02-24
  4. ^ Grundy, Richard. "Tristan da Cunha Healthcare History". www.tristandc.com. Retrieved 2023-01-03.