Making the most of Savona
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The in November 2019 fully renovated cruise terminal Palacrociere Savona consists of three levels with a 1,200 m² terrace, a total covered area of 8,300 m², of which 4,800 dedicated to passengers (a 3500 m² departure hall, and two mezzanines of a total area of 1,300 m² ) and a 3,500 m² baggage claim section. A covered parking area for buses, taxis and cars is also provided.
This is Costa Cruises home port.
Carry-on's are checked by the port authority and not by the cruise ship scanners, therefore soft drinks etc. can be easily carried on board.
The center of Savona is about 300m walking distance over a small bridge, wheelchair friendly.
From Milano Malpensa: direct shuttles to the train station Milano Centrale and from there direct trains to Savona or with a change at Genova Principe train station
By train: From Milan, Turin, Venice, Rome and Genoa: all the trains directed to Ventimiglia, Imperia and Savona, From Nice (Nizza) and Ventimiglia: all the trains directed to Milan, Turin, Venice, Rome, Genoa and Savona. Make sure you validate your train ticket at the validating machines before boarding your train.
By car: The cruisers who leave from Savona have at their disposal a wide parking area (special rate for guests of Costa Cruises), information, services and a maritime station which is comfortable and functional. For guests of the Costa Cruises: From the Genova Porta Principe train station you can use a private bus transfer service from 1:30 pm, which should be booked in advance through your travel agent. Note: If no reservations have been made, this service will not be available.
Tip: if you are planning an overnight in Savona, you may like to stay at the pretty village of Spotorno, west of Savona, and easy to be reached by bus or taxi.
Savona's Medieval historic center is clearly Ligurian in its layout, complete with carruggi and houses within towers. Its buildings are of great historical importance not least for their architecture: the State Archives house the first document written in the Ligurian vernacular (the Dichiarazione di Paxia, 1178-1182).
Above the old town is the huge Priamàr fortress, built in 1528 by the Genoese as a sign of their superiority over the defeated Savonese. These days it houses four major museums. La Torretta is a tower built in the 14th century, it is strategically placed at the entrance of the harbor and is nowadays considered the real symbol of the town. Rintocchi e Memorie is a monument to those who died in War World I. It is the main feature of Piazza Mameli. A tradition, unique in Italy, is renewed every day at 6 pm hen the bell chimes 21 times and everybody is expected to stop and remember all those died in the war. The Cathedral of Our Lady of the…
The tourist office is at Corso Italia, 157 r.
Nearby places
SanRemo, Genoa.
Food and shopping
Its not all seafood at Savona. The hills are so close and the countryside so rich that mountain cooking has infiltrated the local cuisine. 'Tripe in broth' might not be what you are looking for but it was traditionally the lunch preferred by hungry fishermen and the port workers. The meat may have come from the Piemontese breed of cows who do well in the rugged slopes. Fruits of the forest such as mushrooms, chestnuts and truffles also feature in local cooking, as does asparagus and artichokes cultivated along the coast at Albenga.
Money
Euro
Staying connected
Language: Italian
Internet point (37 monitors) available at the cruise terminal. Also a small internet/WiFi cafe about 100 meters from the terminal. You will not miss it when walking to town.
Emergency number: 112
Opening Hours and
Most shops and businesses in Italy open from Monday to Saturday from around 8am until 1pm, and from about 4pm until 7pm, though many shops close on Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings, and in the south the day can begin and end an hour later. In the north some businesses work to a 9am-5pm day to facilitate international dealings. Traditionally, everything except bars and restaurants closes on Sunday, though most towns have a pasticceria open in the mornings, while in large cities and tourist areas, Sunday opening is becoming more common. Most bookstores are open on Sunday in Savona.