Sestri Levante, Mediterranean coastal commune in Liguria, Italy
Sestri Levante is a coastal commune in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, Liguria, sitting on a rocky peninsula that separates two bays from each other. The old town rests on the promontory, while newer neighborhoods spread along both shores and are connected by narrow alleys and stone staircases.
The settlement was called Segesta Tigulliorum in Roman times and became part of the Republic of Genoa from the twelfth century onward, which established an administrative seat here. During the nineteenth century the town developed into a destination for visitors from the north who appreciated its location and climate.
The Baia delle Favole takes its name from the 1960s, when the town decided to honor the Danish storyteller who had spent time here on holiday. Locals use both bays year-round for swimming and spend evenings along the promenades, where small shops and cafés stay open late.
Both bays lie close to each other and can be reached on foot within a few minutes, though the path across the peninsula includes some steep sections. The Baia del Silenzio is smaller and quieter, while the other side offers more space and facilities.
A shipbuilding facility in Riva Trigoso, a district east of the center, has been constructing vessels for over a hundred years and today works mainly on military and commercial orders. The yard sits right by the water and shapes the appearance of this stretch of coast.
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