CASE STUDY

Descending on steps between colourful high buildings and arriving to the gULF of Camogli is magical, especially, at sunset. The anient and still thriving fishing village has a wall of characteristic high and colourful facades, occasionaly with characteristic “trompe – l’oeil”.

 

Cenobio

At the end of the bay there is an attractive hotel with luxurious gardens which climb up the Portofino promontory. From its terraces there is a magnifique view of the village and towards the Riviera coast until Genova and beyond. My initial sketches were much appreciated and I have held exhibitions in the hotel, showing Camogli and the surroundings, including Portofino. Dedicated gift boxes are still on sale at the Cenobio dei Dogi hotel.

The Cenobio dei Dogi Hotel is on the coast line of the beautiful fishermen village of Camogli Its history began in 1565. Dogi’s Family was a noble and powerful family that at the time ruled on a large territory in Italy. They decided to build a Villa on the rocky promontory of the Mountain of Portofino, that they named “Castellaro”. This quickly became their vacation residence, far away from the matters of the Government.

Only much later in 1920 the decision was made to transform the Villa into a luxury Hotel, where people from all around the world could find a corner of tranquillity, beauty and elegance under the same roof. Unfortunately, Emilio De Ferrari did not live long enough to see his dream come true. However, his faithful wife Adelia and his son Paolo and his daughter Luciana kept working on it. In 1956 Hotel Cenobio dei Dogi was born.

The Hotel is surrounded by a magical park of pine trees and exotic flowers. It is truly a splendid sight to see. There are many activities for people who love nature: long, peaceful walks through the pine glades and flowery gardens, boat trips to all the little bays around the Ligurian coast and swimming in the crystal-clear waters of the Golfo Paradiso, discovering San Fruttuoso Bay with its ancient Romanic Abbey and then following the coast line up to Portofino.

Camogli is famous, not only for the great seamen that passed its way, but also for being one of the most ancient fishing ports in Italy. In fact, the name “Camogli” originates from the phrase “Le case delle mogli” (houses of the wives). It was so called, because the fishermen spent a great deal of time at the sea, leaving the village with wives, children and elderly people only. Even today, little has changed.

Camogli still has its fishermen and its traditions.