Feast of St. Fortunato

Every year, on the evening before Camogli’s famous Fish Festival, the Ligurian village comes alive with one of its most heartfelt and spectacular traditions: the Feast of St. Fortunato, protector of fishermen. Its origins lie in the deep connection between the Camogli community and the sea, when fishing was the beating heart of daily life. From May to September, fishermen faced long months on the open sea, often exposed to bad weather and the dangers of navigation. So it was that, driven by popular devotion, the inhabitants decided to entrust themselves to St. Fortunato every second Sunday in May, asking for protection and favorable sea.

The feast begins with an evocative procession through the streets of the village: the effigy of the saint, accompanied by the band and the faithful, passes through the village in a solemn and participatory atmosphere. At the stroke of midnight, the sky lights up with a long fireworks display, a prelude to one of the most anticipated events: the lighting of two huge bonfires on the beach, made and lit by the historic districts Porto and Pinetto, which challenge each other amicably to create the tallest, most spectacular and longest-lasting bonfire.

Between fires, music, and tradition, the Feast of St. Fortunato is a collective tribute to Camogli’s seafaring history, its values, and the devotion that still animates this village overlooking the sea.