Audiotur Diano Marina

Diano Marina is the beating heart of the Gulf of Diano, a town that preserves the heritage of distant eras and tells stories of the sea, trade, and resilience.

Here, the Roman legacy is still visible in the remains of the Mansio Romana of San Bartolomeo, in the tombs discovered beneath the Santuario della Rovere, and in the artefacts preserved at the MARM Civic Museum. Its strategic position along the Via Julia Augusta made Diano an important stop for merchants and travellers heading to Gaul and Spain.

In the Middle Ages, the town grew as a centre of trade and fishing, protected by walls and watchtowers against Saracen and Barbary pirate raids. Its bond with the sea has remained unbroken over the centuries.

Diano Marina also bears the scars of the devastating 1887 earthquake, which destroyed much of the town. After its reconstruction, it was reborn as a model seaside town on the Ligurian coast, with a new urban layout and an elegant promenade. Its example was so admired that it even inspired the creation of Piriápolis in Uruguay, founded by Francisco Piria as its “twin city” overseas.

Discovering Diano Marina means retracing centuries of history, from the traces of ancient Rome to the tales of sailors and fishermen, and the spirit of rebirth after the great challenges of the past.

This guide was created on a non-profit basis by Wepesto APS

Photos, texts, and research by
Nicola Ferrarese and Corrado Agnese

With the support of
Daniela Gandolfi and Lorenzo Ansaldo