Like a gem on the Italian Riviera along the Ligurian coastline, this beach town sits at the base of Monte Beigua.
Visit Celle Ligure at the height of summer. You’ll see a beach almost entirely covered with beach umbrellas and people lazing under them enjoying the warmth and salty air. Dip your toes into the clear, turquoise sea. This central beach, the expansive Bagni Ellida, makes this town one of the most popular resorts on this section of the coast.
Experience the town with all your senses. Apartment blocks in cheerful colors of red, orange and pink look out into the calm ocean. Celle Ligure has a quintessential streetscape of narrow alleys winding through slightly crumbly buildings. In the hills behind the town local farmers grow grapes, olives and other fruits as they have for centuries. Delicious seafood is caught locally too. Explore the medieval core of the Old Town, with its towers and church spires.
Delve into chapters of local history when you visit the historic 17th-century Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo with its historic sculptures and 18th-century Nostra Signora della Consolazione. Learn more about the creative bounties of Celle Ligure in its community hub and town hall, Palazzo Ferri. Here, local artist Raffaele Arecco is honored by the exhibit of a collection of his works.
Get some exercise in the bucolic countryside on one of many hiking trails. This area is also popular for zooming around the hills on a motorcycle. Back on the water, pay a few euros for services such as parking and renting deckchairs and beach umbrellas for the day. Take a small boat trip from the shore, a pleasant way to enjoy the calm seas.
Celle Ligure is a well-known holiday location in Liguria so you’ll find a plethora of places to eat and stay. When you head out of town, stop at the neighboring city of Savona, a trip of about 5 miles (8 kilometers) southwest.
