A holiday in Loano has to be a part of any true explorer's travel plan.
The town is near the mouth of the river Nimbalto and, thanks to its wonderfully dry and temperate climate, guaranteed by its position sheltered from the north wind, it is a well-known seaside and tourist destination. The town runs along the coastline, while behind it rise the mountains that stretch from S. Pietrino to Mount Carmo. Gardens, villas, monuments and the more modern neighbourhoods stand closer to the coast, while the old district of Verzi is perched up in the hill. The marina has inherited the nautical traditions of when large ships still ploughed the waves of the Mediterranean and the oceans.
Take advantage of the holiday packages to Loano and visit the magnificent beach that stretches east of the offshore pier, over 2 km long and with a mixture of sand and gravel. An artificial barrier protects the marine plants and animals. This expanse of sea is one of the most evocative of the Riviera and boasts clean, clear water, which is home to mullets, white bream, sea bream, octopus, squid and many other species. If you're lucky, around autumn you might spot some friendly dolphins.
Don't miss the splendid Madonna di Loreto trail, which winds its way between the town and the valleys before it. The historic centre is full of impressive buildings, often decorated with frescoes and friezes, which alternate with the shops selling local crafts and produce. There are many other details to discover that will make your stay interesting and truly special. One example is the parish church of St. John the Baptist on Piazza Italia, with its distinctive decagonal floor plan. On reaching the square, you can also admire the Town Hall building, with its distinctive doorway of black stone and frescoes, beside a crenellated pentagonal tower. Just a few steps further on, you'll reach the Oratory of Our Lady of the Rosary or of the Turquoise Capes, which houses some precious processional crucifixes like the "Black Christ", a wooden sculpture by artist Olivari. On the summit of Mount Carmelo is instead a magnificent shrine built in the 1600s by architect Rembado and left to the Carmelites.
In the seaside town of Loano you can do all kinds of outdoor activities: scuba diving, windsurfing, sailing (including courses), swimming and beach volley tournaments. And let's not forget the play areas for children, tennis and bocce courts and football fields, as well as two mini-golf courses and a skating rink.
Holidays in Loano are also synonymous with good food. Fish sauces and stews, cooked in many different ways, and still more, the pansotti (a type of ravioli) with herbs and ricotta cheese, artichoke and pumpkin tart, the "Easter" tart, stuffed vegetables and the snails in zemin… Ligurian cuisine boasts countless specialities that will have you licking your lips.
