Framura, a small municipality in eastern Liguria, is a cluster of hamlets that retain the charm of times past. Nestled on steep terrain descending toward the sea, its uniqueness lies in its urban structure: Framura is in fact the collective name for five villages—Anzo, Ravecca, Setta, Costa, and Castagnola—connected by a steep staircase that climbs from the coast into the hinterland. The coastline, typical of the Ligurian Riviera, alternates between sheer cliffs and secluded coves, accessible via the Via del Mare (Sea Road), a panoramic walkway overlooking the sea that begins at the railway station near the village’s small harbor.
Climbing from the shore, one first encounters Anzo, home to a 15th-century Genoese watchtower and the neo-Gothic chapel of Nostra Signora della Neve (Chapel of Our Lady of the Snow). Next is Ravecca, with its distinctly medieval character. The municipal seat of Framura is located in Setta, also guarded by a 15th-century Genoese tower. In Costa, visitors can admire a rich artistic heritage, including a Carolingian tower with foundations dating back to the 4th century AD, and the Pieve di San Martino, built in the 10th century, which houses a Madonna del Rosario by the renowned Genoese painter Bernardo Strozzi, a master of Italian Baroque painting. The final village, Castagnola, located slightly inland, features the parish church of San Lorenzo, which holds The Deposition by Luca Cambiaso, a celebrated 16th-century painter known for his frescoes at El Escorial in Madrid.In 2024, Framura was awarded the prestigious “Bandiera Blu” (Blue Flag) certification for the 12th consecutive year.