Savona (Italy Riviera)

Savona is a major port city on the Italian Riviera (Riviera di Ponente) located close to Genoa. The city covers a total area of approx 66 km2 (25 mi2) and has population over 60,000. Savona is located approx 35 km (22 mi) from Genoa Airport, approx 220 km (135 mi) from Malpensa Airport (Milano) and approx 160 km (100 mi) from Nice (Cote d’Azur, French Riviera).

As cruise port, Savona is also the primary Mediterranean homeport of Costa Cruises. Regularly scheduled cruiseferries connect Savona to Corsica (Bastia, Ile Rousse), mainland Spain (Barcelona) and Morocco (Tangier-Med).

The city is not flashy, but attracts numerous international tourists with its reach history, unique architecture and long beaches. Most shops don't work between 1-4 pm. City's main attractions include Assunta Cathedral, Cappella Sistina (15th century Chapel with the Mausoleum of Pope Sixtus IV), Nostra Signora di Castello (church), Sanctuary of Nostra Signora della Misericordia, Leon Pancaldo Tower, Brandale Tower, Priamar fortress (16th century), Palazzo Della Rovere, Palazzo Gavotti, Palazzo Delle Piane. Fun fact is that the Italian colonist Christopher Columbus (1451-1506) settled here to record his American voyages' history.

Savona is ranked Italy's 4th largest cruise port by annually handled passengers (1,3 million in 2013). The seaport is adjacent to city's historic downtown and since the Middle Ages its shipping trade is of ultimate importance for Liguria Region's economy.

Daily ferry connections from Savona are provided by the large companies Corsica-Sardinia Ferries (to Corsica) and Grimaldi Lines (to Barcelona and Tangier). Ferries connect to Bastia with 14 weekly crossings, and with 1 crossing per week to Ile Rousse, Barcelona and Tangier.

On December 14, 2018, at Palacrociere Terminal, Costa Cruises and Savona's port authority company (Western Ligurian Sea Port Authority) signed a cruise terminal concession extension through 2044. The event was attended by Paolo Emilio Signorini (port authority's President), Neil Palomba (Costa's President), Giovanni Toti (Liguria Region's President) and Ilaria Caprioglio (Savona's Mayor).

On November 3, 2019, in Port Savona was held the christening ceremony of Costa Smeralda (length 337 m, max capacity 6500 passengers). For the period 2019-2021, the new liner is homeported here for Saturday departures on 7-day itinerary visiting Marseille, Barcelona, Palma, Civitavecchia-Rome and La Spezia.

To accommodate one of the world's largest passenger ships, the Port invested EUR 24 million for the consolidation of Calata delle Vele quay, berth extension and dredging/deepening the seabed in front Palacrociere Terminal (from 9 to 11 m / 36 ft) and the navigation channels (their draft was increased to 10 m/33 ft). These works cost the port authority EUR 19,35M. Costa invested EUR 4,5M into 2 new mooring fingers (to extend the berth). For season 2019, the cruise port was visited 155 times by Costa ships alone. All excavated material (sediment/debris) was used for Terminal Alti Fondali Savona (bulk-cargo facility with total area 40000 m2 / 430,556 ft2, 7 covered docks and quayside depth 30 m / 98 ft). This development project was completed in April 2023.

On November 14, 2019, was officially opened the renovated Calata delle Vele quay and was inaugurated Palacrociere Terminal 1. The ceremony was attended by Ilaria Caprioglio (city's Mayor), Giovanni Toti (Liguria's President), Paolo Emilio Signorini (Port Authority's President) and Neil Palomba (Costa's President).

Savona cruise terminal

Savona tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

• Priamar Fortress: dates from 1542. It was built by the Genoese and served as a prison for a long time. The Primar fortress is close to Rocca di San Georgio.
• Cappella Sistina: dates from the 1480s. The style of the building is in Rococo and it houses a mausoleum. It was constructed by Pope Sixtus IV. The Cappella Sistina is close to the cathedral.
• Palazzo Della Rovere: an old unfinished palace. It had to serve as a palace, then it had to be university but it still stands unfinished located near the cathedral.
• The Old Towers: the old towers of Savona are five and are in different areas of the city. Those are the ones that survived the attack in the 16th century.
• Church of Nostra Signiora de Castello: the most interesting about this place is its interior. The most popular attraction is the piece of the alter. Its designer is Vincenzo Foppa.
• Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy: located 7 km from Savona cruise port. The place appeared to be the shelter of Our Lady. There is a church that dates from the 1536. The architecture is impressive Baroque. Inside the church is painted by hand over centuries by various artists.
• Christopher Columbus’s House: the house of the famous explorer is some kilometers from Savo cruise port. He spent here many of his young years.