Cervo's Chiesa dei Corallini (Church of San Giovanni Battista, 17th-18th century) was built by the coral fishermen of Cervo — the town's economy was based on harvesting Mediterranean red coral, and the fishermen invested their wealth in a church of unexpected magnificence: a concave baroque facade that faces the sea, designed so that arriving sailors would see it from their boats. The facade IS Cervo: it appears in every photograph, every poster, every guidebook cover of the Riviera di Ponente. Since 1964, the International Chamber Music Festival has held concerts on the church piazza, with the audience facing the facade and the sea behind them — one of the most beautiful concert settings in Italy. Behind the church: a medieval borgo of narrow lanes climbing to castle ruins. Liguria →
Plan my Riviera trip →Chiesa dei Corallini (San Giovanni Battista): The concave baroque facade (1686-1734) dominates the piazza — coral, wealth, and Counter-Reformation theatre in one building. Interior: baroque altars, paintings. Free entry. The piazza: The church piazza doubles as a viewpoint — the Ligurian Sea stretches to the horizon. The medieval borgo: Stone lanes climbing from the piazza to the Castello dei Clavesana (12th century, now Museo Etnografico — local life, coral fishing history). €3. International Chamber Music Festival (July-August): Concerts on the piazza — check cervofestival.com for program. Tickets €15-30.
Getting there: Cervo-San Bartolomeo station (Genoa-Ventimiglia line, 5min walk uphill). By car: 10min from Imperia, 20min from Alassio. Free to visit. Duration: 1-1.5 hours. Eat: San Giorgio (€30-45 — terrace, seafood). Combine with: Imperia (10min — olive oil museum, Porto Maurizio old town), Alassio (20min — beach), Diano Marina (5min), Finalborgo (40min).