LucadeaLuca is the creator of this site. He travels the world for work and loves taking photographs and sharing them with all his visitors.

The Stone House in Chiavari.
Some places retain a special charm even when their walls show years of wear and neglect. Just behind Piazza dei Pescatori, at the beginning of Valparaiso Street in Chiavari, Liguria, I came across this old stone house and decided to photograph it. Its weathered façade, old masonry and arched openings caught my attention, but the memories shared by former residents reveal a much deeper story than the photograph alone could tell.
I was drawn to the house because it feels like an authentic piece of everyday Chiavari, rather than a building restored to impress visitors. It belongs to the familiar streetscape of the town, where homes and small businesses once formed the backdrop to ordinary routines. After sharing my photograph, I received comments from people who knew this place personally, and their recollections gave the image a new meaning.
One visitor explained that they had spent their summers in the house with their family, from the early 1980s until the early 2000s. For them, the building was much more than a collection of stone walls: it was a place associated with family life, holidays and cherished memories. According to their account, the owners eventually decided not to renew the rental agreement, and the properties were left to deteriorate. The neglected appearance we see today therefore carries a personal sadness for someone who remembers the house as a much-loved part of their life.
The same testimony provides details that are not immediately apparent from the street. There are reportedly two houses, identifiable by their green entrance doors, with a terrace overlooking the inner area and a cellar beside the grocery shop. These small details help us picture the homes as lived-in spaces, with their own corners, entrances and family routines.
The arches below the houses also played a part in the neighbourhood’s history. The former resident remembers several businesses operating there over the years: a fishmonger’s shop, a shoemaker and a takeaway pizzeria. It is easy to imagine the everyday activity that once surrounded these premises, with local residents stopping to buy food, have shoes repaired or pick up something for dinner. These modest businesses may seem like small details, but they helped shape the character of the street and the relationships between the people who lived nearby.
Perhaps the most touching part of the comment is the affection with which the visitor describes the place as magical. Their message is not simply about an old building; it expresses a strong attachment to a location that remains important to them decades later. They also hope to return to the area, including the boat-storage facilities nearby, and invite anyone who lived in these houses to share their own memories.
This is one of the things I value most about photography. I may begin by noticing an old façade, a green door or a stone arch, but the stories shared by others can turn that image into a meeting point between past and present. The building provides the setting, while the memories of former residents bring its history to life.
Chiavari has many corners where the town’s past can still be glimpsed in its buildings and streets. This stone house, tucked behind Piazza dei Pescatori at the start of Valparaiso Street, deserves to be remembered not only for its architecture but also for the lives connected to it. Like other photographs of the town, it offers an opportunity to preserve fragments of local history that might otherwise be forgotten.
I hope this photograph reaches more people who lived here, spent summers with their families or remember the small businesses beneath the arches. Every new recollection could add another piece to the story and help keep the memory of this special corner of Chiavari alive.

Did you or your family ever live in these houses, or do you remember the shops beneath the arches? I would love to hear your stories and discover more about this old stone house in Chiavari. Add an comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photo taken with a Canon EOS M100 camera and Canon EF-M 22 lens.

Here’s where Piazza dei Pescatori is located in Chiavari:

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