Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Camogli is on the Genoa-La Spezia train line, with regular connections to Santa Margher-
ita (€2.10, five minutes) and Rapallo (€2.10, 10 minutes).
Punta Chiappa (one way/return €5/9) and San Fruttuoso (€8/12). Between June and
September there are services to Genoa's Porto Antico (€10/15), Portofino (€10/17) and the
Cinque Terre (€20/28).
San Fruttuoso
The yin to Portofino's yang, San Fruttuoso is a slice of ancient tranquillity preserved amid
some of Italy's ritziest coastal resorts. There are no roads here - thank heavens! Access is
either by boat or on foot.
Sights
Abbazia di San Fruttuoso
di Capodimonte
(adult/reduced €5/3; 10am-5.45pm Jun
-
mid-Sep)
The hamlet's extraordinary Benedictine ab-
bey was built as a final resting place for Bishop St Fructuosus of Tarragona (martyred in
Spain in AD 259). It was rebuilt in the mid-13th century with the assistance of the Doria
family. The abbey fell into decay with the decline of the religious community, and in the
19th century it was divided into small living quarters by local fishers.
In 1954 a bronze
statue
of Christ was lowered 15m to the seabed, offshore from the ab-
bey, to bless the waters. Dive to see it or view it from a boat if the waters are calm - the
Cooperativa Battellieri del Golfo Paradiso can provide details. Replicas were lowered in
St George's harbour in Grenada, in 1961, and off Key Largo in Florida in 1966.
CHURCH
Getting There & Away
San Fruttuoso's isolation is maintained by its lack of road access. You can walk in on foot
from Camogli (a tricky, rocky hike with metal hand supports) or Portofino, a steep but
easier 5km cliffside walk. Both hikes take about 2½ hours one way. Alternatively, you can
catch a boat from Camogli (one way/return €8/12) or Punta Chiappa (€5/9).
