Caruggio Dritto, the heart of Chiavari

Il Caruggio Dritto di Chiavari, il cuore della città rivierasca

Caruggio Dritto, the heart of Chiavari.
Walking through the centre of Chiavari with my camera in hand, I decided to capture the perspective of the town’s most famous street: Caruggio Dritto, the pedestrian road that crosses the heart of the historic centre between arcades, buildings and shops.
This photograph was born from the desire to tell the story of an everyday place, one of those streets that are part of local life but that immediately reveal the authentic atmosphere of a Ligurian town to visitors. I chose a particular composition, intentionally flattened, to include a large part of the street and emphasize the long perspective created by the buildings on both sides.
Caruggio Dritto in Chiavari, officially known as Via Martiri della Liberazione, is the main pedestrian street of the town centre and one of the most recognizable places in the city. Walking along this street means discovering the typical Ligurian arcades, colourful façades, historic shops and many small details connected with daily life in the Tigullio area.
I took this photograph in Chiavari, Liguria, Italy, during a simple walk through the town centre. This is exactly the kind of photography I enjoy: not only famous landmarks or spectacular viewpoints, but also ordinary places that can reveal the true character of a town.
A small curiosity is related to the word “caruggio”, which comes from the Genoese dialect and traditionally indicates a narrow street or alley in Ligurian historic centres. In Chiavari, however, Caruggio Dritto is much more than a small alley: it is the main street of the old town, a meeting place and one of the symbols of the city.
Over the years I have photographed different corners of Chiavari, from the panoramic view at Sanctuary of Grazie to the seaside area of Preli, but every time I return to the historic centre I find new details to observe. Ligurian towns often reveal their identity through these streets, where history and everyday life exist together.
I like the idea that a photograph like this can give someone who has never visited Chiavari a small feeling of walking beneath its arcades and discovering the atmosphere of the town.
If you are visiting Chiavari, Caruggio Dritto is one of the places worth seeing to experience the rhythm of the historic centre and understand the character of this Ligurian town.

Have you ever walked along Caruggio Dritto in Chiavari and stopped to admire the details of its historic buildings? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photos taken with Canon EOS RP and Tamron 16-300.

Where the caruggio is located:

Chiavari’s historic center can be considered one of the best-preserved areas in the entire Tigullio region. Its urban and architectural layout differs significantly from that of other coastal towns, particularly due to the abundance of medieval arcades along the historic core’s main thoroughfare—the *Caruggio Dritto* (comprising Via Martiri della Liberazione and Via Vittorio Veneto)—which has stood as the quintessential symbol of the merchant class since the second half of the 14th century.
Read more on Wikipedia

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Vittorio Veneto Street in the center of Chiavari

Via Vittorio Veneto in centro a Chiavari

Vittorio Veneto Street in the center of Chiavari.
The center of Chiavari is crossed by a straight street (a “caruggio”) that also serves as the main promenade.
In the western section it is called Martiri della Liberazione Street, while in the eastern section it is called Vittorio Veneto Street (which then continues into Dante Avenue).
Using a telephoto lens, I took photos that in this case I intentionally made a bit compressed, in order to capture the entire street in a single shot.

Do you know the historic center of Chiavari? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Photos taken with Canon EOS RP and lens Tamron 16-300.

Where is the street:

Vittorio Veneto is an Italian town of 26,989 inhabitants in the province of Treviso in the Veneto region. The Battle of Vittorio Veneto was fought there during the Great War; the victory of the Italian army over the Austro-Hungarian army resulted in the Austrian surrender and the end of the war.
Continue and learn more at Wikipedia

The historic center of Chiavari: the beautiful via Vittorio Veneto – Le centre historique de Chiavari : la belle via Vittorio Veneto – El centro histórico de Chiavari: la hermosa via Vittorio Veneto – O centro histórico de Chiavari: a bela via Vittorio Veneto – Das historische Zentrum von Chiavari: die wunderschöne Via Vittorio Veneto – Trung tâm lịch sử của Chiavari: người đẹp qua Vittorio Veneto – 基亚瓦里的历史中心:美丽的维托里奥威尼托大街 – キアーヴァリの歴史的中心部:美しいヴィットリオ・ヴェネト通り
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The alleway in Chiavari, an unusually empty street

Via Martiri della Liberazione a Chiavari, un caruggio insolito

The alleway in Chiavari, an unusually empty street.
Strolling along Via Martiri della Liberazione in Chiavari in October 2024, I encountered a surprisingly rare atmosphere: a straight, normally bustling alleyway, completely deserted. No passersby, no sound of footsteps or voices mingling among the arcades. Only the light wind caressing the shutters and a few fallen leaves rolling across the stone pavement. Photographing that moment was almost a trick of the city: a familiar, usually lively place, for a few minutes revealed itself in an almost unreal calm.
Chiavari’s straight alleyway has a linearity that guides the gaze from one end to the other, and that absence of movement highlighted the symmetry of the facades, the lights and shadows of the arcades, the simple lines of the balconies. In this silence, every detail takes shape: a faded sign, the reflection of a shop window, the signs of time on the walls. Everything seems to breathe slowly, as if the street itself were slowing its pace to allow us to observe it without haste.
Strolling there, in that rare emptiness, was almost meditative. Via Martiri della Liberazione is one of those streets that speaks to the life of Chiavari: activities, shops, unexpected encounters. Seeing it without people was a break from routine, making it clear how the architecture itself, with its porticos and the linearity of the alleyway, can define the character of a place, even without the presence of its inhabitants.
That October afternoon, the silence wasn’t disturbing, but almost reassuring. It was an invitation to observe, to pause, to notice what often escapes in the frenzy of the city. Photographing the deserted alleyway transformed a familiar street into a small, suspended scene, where the ordinary became extraordinary for a few minutes.

Have you ever seen a street you know well completely empty and felt it change before your eyes? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Via Martiri della Liberazione a Chiavari, un caruggio insolito

Photo taken with Oppo Reno 12.

Via Martiri della Liberazione in Chiavari, an unusually empty street – Via Martiri della Liberazione à Chiavari, une rue inhabituellement vide – Via Martiri della Liberazione en Chiavari, una calle inusualmente vacía – Via Martiri della Liberazione em Chiavari, uma rua incomumente vazia – Via Martiri della Liberazione in Chiavari, eine ungewöhnlich leere Straße – Via Martiri della Liberazione ở Chiavari, một con phố bất thường vắng vẻ – 奇亚瓦里解放烈士街,异常空旷的街道 – キアヴァリのマルティリデッラリベラツィオーネ通り、異例の閑散とした通り

The text of this post was written with the help of ChatGPT, a language model from OpenAI.

Under the arcades of the alleyway of Chiavari

Sotto i portici del caruggio di Chiavari

Under the arcades of Chiavari’s caruggio.
Chiavari, located in the heart of Tigullio, is a city that enchants with its historic charm and traditions. One of Chiavari’s most characteristic features is its “caruggio dritto,” also known as Via Martiri della Liberazione, a place where time seems to have stood still.
Walking under the arcades of Chiavari’s caruggio is like stepping back in time. These 19th-century porticos, with their elegant arches and colorful buildings, tell the story of a city that has successfully preserved its architectural and cultural heritage. The caruggio is the beating heart of Chiavari, home to historic shops, traditional restaurants, and artisan workshops.
The arcades of the caruggio are a perfect example of Ligurian architecture. The lines of the arches and the bright colors of the buildings create a unique atmosphere, inviting you to stroll slowly, admiring the details and breathing in the air of a bygone era. During the stroll, you can discover prestigious buildings such as Palazzo Rocca and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Giardino.
Chiavari is a lively and dynamic city, offering numerous events throughout the year. The antiques market, held every second weekend of the month, is a must-see for lovers of vintage objects and unique pieces. Furthermore, the alleyway hosts festivals and events celebrating typical products and local traditions.
Under the arcades of Chiavari’s alleyway, you can breathe a magical atmosphere, steeped in history, culture, and tradition. It’s a place where every corner tells a story and every step is a journey through time. If you haven’t visited Chiavari yet, I invite you to do so and be enchanted by its timeless charm.

Do you know Chiavari’s historic center? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Sotto i portici del caruggio di Chiavari

Photo taken with Canon EOS RP and lens Canon RF 28.

Under the arcades of the alley of Chiavari – Sous les arcades de l’allée de Chiavari – Bajo las arcadas del callejón de Chiavari – Sob as arcadas do beco de Chiavari – Unter den Arkaden der Gasse von Chiavari – Dưới mái vòm của con hẻm Chiavari

The text of this post was written with the help of Copilot, an artificial intelligence-based virtual assistant.
References:
– https://lamialiguria.it/localita/chiavari/

The alleyway of Chiavari in October 2024

Il caruggio di Chiavari ad ottobre 2024

The caruggio of Chiavari in October 2024.
It’s the most famous street in Chiavari, Via Martiri della Liberazione, known to all as the caruggio.
With its porticoes on both sides, the slate columns (which by tradition are all different), and the colorful houses.

Do you know the historic center of Chiavari? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Il caruggio di Chiavari ad ottobre 2024

Photo taken with Oppo Reno 12.

The alley of Chiavari in October 2024 – L’allée de Chiavari en octobre 2024 – El callejón de Chiavari en octubre de 2024 – O beco de Chiavari em outubro de 2024 – Die Gasse von Chiavari im Oktober 2024 – Ngõ Chiavari tháng 10 năm 2024

Carrugio Dritto in the old town of Chiavari

Carrugio Dritto a Chiavari

Carrugio Dritto in the old town of Chiavari.
Walking through the centre of Chiavari, I found myself following one of the streets that best captures the everyday character of the town, with its arcades, shops, historic buildings and long perspective. This photograph is about Carrugio Dritto in Chiavari, a simple but very recognisable view of the old town.
I took this photograph myself during a walk through Chiavari, stopping for a moment to look along the street. I did not need a complicated composition: the succession of buildings and arcades already created an interesting perspective. Carrugio Dritto naturally draws the eye forward and makes it easy to appreciate the structure of this part of the historic centre.
Chiavari is in Liguria, in the Metropolitan City of Genoa, along the Gulf of Tigullio in Italy. If you are wondering what to see in Chiavari, the old town is one of the natural places to start, not only because of its historic architecture but also because the streets still have a very everyday atmosphere. This is one of the reasons I enjoy photographing Chiavari: interesting images can appear during an ordinary walk, without needing a special event or a particular occasion.
Carrugio Dritto crosses the historic centre along a route characterised by the typical Ligurian arcades. Walking through it, you encounter shops, entrances to homes, historic façades and small architectural details that change depending on where you stand. In this photograph, I wanted to preserve that feeling of continuity and allow the perspective of the street itself to lead the viewer through the image.
One of the details I find most interesting about the old streets of Chiavari is the relationship between the road and the arcades. This is not simply a narrow alley. The covered walkways create a more open urban space while providing shelter and allowing people to move between buildings. The result is an architectural feature that still belongs to everyday life in the city.
The historic centre of Chiavari is particularly known for its medieval arcades, which developed along important commercial streets. Their original purpose was practical: they offered shelter while creating useful spaces for commercial activities. It is a small historical detail, but it changes the way I look at a photograph like this because what may appear to be a simple architectural feature is actually connected with the practical needs of the city’s past.
When I photograph a street like Carrugio Dritto, I also enjoy looking at details that could easily be overlooked. Shop signs, façades, windows, columns and the changing lines of the arcades all become part of the image. There does not have to be a famous monument in the middle of the frame. Sometimes the combination of ordinary details says much more about a town.
Carrugio Dritto is also a useful starting point for exploring Chiavari on foot. From here, you can continue through other streets in the historic centre, reach Piazza Mazzini, the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Montallegro’s local reference points, and the areas closer to the harbour. Walking rather than following a strict itinerary makes it easier to notice the smaller details along the way.
If you are visiting Chiavari and looking for places worth seeing, I have also created a photographic guide to Chiavari on the site. I like connecting these stories because a single street such as Carrugio Dritto becomes more meaningful when it is seen alongside the other places I have photographed in the town.
Chiavari is a very rewarding place for urban photography. You can walk without a precise destination and still find different perspectives at every turn. A street can look completely different a few metres further on, while the arcades create repeating architectural lines that give each section its own character.
This photograph came from one of those walks. I stopped because the scene in front of me seemed worth preserving, even though for someone who lives in Chiavari it might be an entirely ordinary part of the daily landscape. That is also why I continue photographing familiar places: over time, you begin to notice details that might have escaped your attention on the first visit.
Carrugio Dritto is therefore more than just a street to cross on the way somewhere else. It is one of the views that helps reveal the structure of Chiavari’s historic centre and the relationship between its streets, buildings and commercial life.
Looking at this photograph again, what I like most is how quickly it brings me back to that walk. It is not an image intended to tell the entire story of Chiavari. It is simply one fragment of the town, seen from my own viewpoint. Over time, many fragments like this can become a larger visual memory of the places I have visited and photographed.

If you visit Chiavari, do you find yourself stopping to look at the old streets and arcades, or are you more attracted to the views towards the sea? Add a comment or go to the bottom of the site to read what other visitors have written.

Carrugio Dritto in Chiavari's old town, with traditional arcades, historic buildings and local shops

Photo taken with Canon EOS M100 camera and Canon EF-S 10-18 lens.

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  • Italiano