A village on the beach
Varigotti is part of Finale Ligure, a few kilometres east of the centre along the Via Aurelia. The old village faces straight onto the sea: between the fishermen's houses, built right on the beachfront, small vaulted passages lead down to the sand. The beach is about two kilometres long and holds a Blue Flag in 2026.
A little history
Varigotti's old harbour lay where the Baia dei Saraceni is today. It was a strategic possession of the Del Carretto family until Genoa had it filled in, in 1341. The present village was rebuilt in the 14th century on the other side of Punta Crena. On the headland stand the ruins of the castle, with traces of a Byzantine castrum.
San Lorenzo Vecchio and Punta Crena
On a cliff above the Baia dei Saraceni stands San Lorenzo Vecchio, an early medieval church that served as the parish church until 1586; a footpath north of the village leads up to it. Punta Crena is a protected area with a 16th-century watchtower and views as far as Capo Noli. The Baroque church of San Lorenzo, on the Aurelia, was built between 1624 and 1637.
The little beach at Punta Crena
Below the headland lies a tiny, much-photographed cove, about 250 metres from the pier. The path down is steep and runs above sheer drops, motorboats may not approach, and in recent years the town has issued orders banning access: check the current rules on the Comune di Finale Ligure website before you go.
On foot to Noli
From the upper part of the village starts the Pilgrim's Path, which passes San Lorenzo Vecchio and reaches Noli through Mediterranean scrub and cliffs: one of the most scenic walks on the Riviera di Ponente.
Where to stay
From Smeraldo and Acquamarina, in central Finale Ligure 20 metres from the sea, Varigotti is a few minutes along the Aurelia. For the other beaches nearby, see our guide to Finale Ligure's beaches.
