Walking through Sestri Levante you will realize that the name "city of the two seas" is absolutely appropriate. In fact, the city stands on a promontory divided into two beautiful bays, the Bay of Fables and the Bay of Silence, united by a piece of land that leads to the flat part of the wonderful village. So, what better way to visit Sestri Levante than on foot?
In this article you will find some splendid ideas for living your holiday in Liguria in the most authentic way possible.

Walking through Sestri Levante you can see a very special isthmus that connects an island to the peninsula. This is because, historically, the ancient Levant population resided only on the island in front of the promontory. 
Since Roman times, Sestri Levante was considered an important commercial port, thanks to the numerous ways that connected it to the rest of Liguria and the hinterland. 
In 1200, under the Genoese rule, it became one of the the capitals. 
Over the years, like all Ligurian villages, it underwent several dominations. The most important one was the Napoleonic one.
An event that shocked the locals a lot was the launch of a bomb on the crowd during the celebrations of November the 4th in 1920 by an anarchist.

If these places fascinate you, you can visit Agrigento with one of our tours in Sicily:

⇒Trekking stanziale in Liguria

⇒A spasso per la Liguria: trekking Cinque Terre e Portofino

What to do in Sestri Levante

Walking around Sestri levante means walking in one of the many streets of the old town while you can constantly see the sea surrounded by typical colorful houses. This because Sestri Levante is a city rich in wonderful historical buildings and tradition.
Why not decide to spend a carefree day to discover the beauties of this fascinating village in Liguria?
If you want to spend a day in Sestri Levante, we have prepared a list of things to see and visit in peace:

  • Church of San Nicolò
  • Church of the Cappuccini Friars
  • Palazzo Fascie
  • Convent of the Annunziata

And now let's set off together to discover the most identifying places in Sestri Levante!

Church of San Nicolò

Among these you can find the beautiful Church of San Nicolò, that was built about the 1151 on the promontory of the city. Its peculiarity is that of incorporating in its interior different architectural styles. In fact, during the Baroque period, the interior of the church was adapted to the new artistic current and then brought back to the original style in 1920.

Church of the Capuchin Friars

A very special building built in 1688 and located on the east side of the Bay of Silence. This is because the friars wanted a place far from urbanization where they could pray. The church is particularly pretty thanks to its black and white striped facade and its particular position that allows you to see the sea behind it. In addition, inside the church you can find an important wooden statue placed on the high altar and two works of the famous painter Domenico Fiasella.

Palazzo Fascie

Walking through Sestri Levante and its streets of the center you will meet Palazzo Fascie. Built in the early years of the 20th century, it is immediately recognizable thanks to its particular red color and the tower that belongs to its. Over the years the palace has hosted several offices, including one of the Fascist party. Currently, inside, you can visit the MuSel (Archaeological and City Museum).

Convent of the Annunziata

On the tip of the peninsula you can see the convent of the Annunziata, a wonderful building built in 1460. Its peculiarity is to be surrounded on three sides by the sea. In addition, thanks to some restoration work, it is now possible to see a wonderful fresco on the ceiling attributed to Domenico Fiasella along with other wonderful frescoes and stuccos.

What to do in Sestri Levante - the Slow Active Tours proposal

Once you have discovered the wonders hidden among the streets of Agrigento, the time has come to get to the heart of the sounds and smells of this ancient village. 

  •  MuSel

    In addition to the wonderful historic buildings, you must not forget to pay a visit to the museums that can be found in this wonderful village. Walking through Sestri Levante and the narrow streets of its historic center, you will find Palazzo Fascie. On the fourth and fifth floors of this historic building you can visit the MuSel, the Archaeological and City Museum. This particular museum offers a wide variety of historical finds that come from a very long time span. The MuSel, in fact, preserves historical finds ranging from the Paleolithic era up to the last century.

  • Passeggiata nel Centro Storico

    Immergetevi nella calda atmosfera ligure, tra gli edifici colorati, dove antiche botteghe di artigiani si alternano a piccoli negozi di souvenir 

  • Walking in the historic center

    The beaches of Sestri Levante are one of the main attractions of the city and are located in the Bay of Silence and the Bay of Fairy Tales. The Bay of Silence is a very intimate and fascinating place. On the rocks you can see the Fisherman Statue, very similar to the Little Mermaid of Copenhagen. Baia delle Favole is located on the opposite side of the promontory. Its particular name is a tribute to the children's fairy tale writer Hans Christian Andersen, who stayed here for a long period. Furthermore, a festival of unpublished fairy tales is dedicated to him in which both children and adults can participate.

  • Cinque Terre walking tour

    If you want to spend a more engaging holiday, you can't miss the wonderful trekking routes of Portofino.
    In the shadow of the characteristic and picturesque houses of Portofino, an incredible journey on foot begins that we at Slow Active Tours propose to discover the wonderful and exciting views that the Ligurian Riviera offers.

Festivals and Popular celebrations in Sestri Levante

Among the many reasons why Sestri Levante attracts so many people every year, there is the Andersen Festival. The festival awards every year the best Italian fairy tales and takes place during the first weekend of June. It attracts every year a wide and varied audience, in addition to numerous famous people.
Another prominent festival in the city of Sestri Levante is the Riviera International Film Festival. Every year, you can walk around Sestri Levante and admire all the stands that the festival sets up. In fact, for 5 days, the festival has organized events, masterclasses, workshops and concludes with a competition for young film directors from all around the world.

Typical dishes of Sestri Levante

Walking around Sestri Levante and going into the alleys, you can smell the delicious scents that come from all the restaurants that serve the typical dishes of the area.
The main and best known typical dish of Sestri Levante is the Bagnun, a particular dish based on anchovies and tomato sauce. In addition, you can taste all the typical dishes of the Ligurian tradition, such as Farinata di Ceci, the famous Focaccia and Lasagne with Pesto.

Eating and Drinking in Sestri Levante

Here are some suggestions from the area:

Aragosta d'oro in Via Palestro, 4. A charming and welcoming place with a friendly staff are the setting for the abundant and tasty dishes that this restaurant offers. Great for those who want to try authentic Ligurian cuisine.
Ristorante ai Castelli in Via Penisola Levante, 26. Let yourself be welcomed and pampered by a terrace with breathtaking views of the sunset over the sea that will make every dish even more tasty. Refined dishes and quality raw materials will make your stay pleasant.
Balin in Viale Rimembranza, 33. The well-kept and well-presented dishes are the business card of this beautiful place. All surrounded by qualified staff and an extensive wine list that make it complete and special. Note of merit is its inclusion in the guide Michelin 2020 for the quality of its dishes.

So what are you waiting for? Get your stuff ready and off you go!