Centro storico Savona: Monumento Pertini | © Archivio visitsavona

History and Traditions

Shaped by history, built on tradition... Savona welcomes you with open arms.

PAST MEETS PRESENT

History and traditions

Savona is more than a city, it is an epic story etched in time, a swirl of characters from the past and traditions that warm the heart. As you wander through the streets, you immerse yourself in crossroads in history, where every stone has a story to tell of great people from the past who have made Savona famous all over the world: from Popes Sixtus IV and Pope Julius II to Giuseppe Mazzini who helped to shape the modern state of Italy and former president Sandro Pertini. Savona is a city to experience and savour with all of your senses.

A kaleidoscope of emotions that swirl around the city walls, precious heritage to be protected and preserved. Discover the magic for yourself!

Respect for traditions

The 21 Chimes

This near century-old tradition has been revived for over 92 years and is repeated every evening in the heart of the city.

The Confuoco

The Confuoco (Confuêgo - Cunfögu - Confeugo in Ligurian dialect) is a very ancient event, whose origins date back to the Roman Saturnalia. 

Good Friday Procession

The Good Friday procession in Savona takes place every two years (in even-numbered years only) and is one of the most important and spectacular Holy Week events held across many Italian regions.

Savona presents...

Famous Savonesi

City of Popes

Savona is also known as the City of Popes, due to the cultural and artistic legacy of two great patrons of the Italian Renaissance, namely Popes Sixtus IV and Julius II. 

See details

Luigi Corsi

Mayor from 1861 to 1875.

See details

Bartolomeo Guidobono

Painter

See details

Giuseppe Mazzini

Italian patriot, politician, philosopher and journalist.

See details

Paolo Boselli

Statesman and patriot.

See details

Francesco Bourniquez

See details

Pietro Paleocapa

Engineer.

See details

Vincenzo Gio Verzellino

Writer.

See details

Giovanni Servettaz

Industry pioneer. 

See details

Giuseppe Cava

Dialect Poet.

See details

Isidoro Bonini

Engineer.

See details

Antonio Botta

Pious Farmer.

See details

Orazio Grassi

Writer

See details

Sandro Pertini

Sandro Pertini, who served as seventh president of the Italian Republic.

See details

Monument to Sandro Pertini

See details

Giuseppe Garibaldi

Patriot, general and politician.

See details
Cosa vedere a Savona: San Pietro | © Archivio visitsavona

Cultural itineraries

Walk and discover

Are you ready to go?

Planning your holiday

HERE. NOW. SAVONA WAITS FOR YOU!
Don't delay, plan your trip to the Ligurian coast today and find out why Savona is a city not to be missed!

Thank you

We’ve sent you an email. To activate the newsletter, click on the link you will find in the message. Thank you!

Something went wrong

Try again

Mistake