Baia delle Favole

The Baia delle Favole, or Bay of Fables, is the larger bay on the western side of Sestri Levante's peninsula. Its open sweep of beach and waterfront contrasts with the smaller Baia del Silenzio on the other side.

Why it matters

The bay's name connects the coastal landscape with Hans Christian Andersen's stay in Sestri Levante in 1833. That association became part of the town's cultural identity through the Premio Andersen – Baia delle Favole, established in 1967, and the Andersen Festival.

What to notice

The beach and promenade form a broad seafront, with the harbour towards the peninsula. Houses, gardens and churches rise on the ridge separating the two bays. The name Lungomare Andersen gives the waterfront itself a literary dedication, alongside the larger physical contrast between the open western bay and its more enclosed eastern neighbour.

Context and history

Andersen's nineteenth-century visit predates the bay's fairy-tale name. Local history associates the naming with television presenter Enzo Tortora during a broadcast of Campanile Sera, recalling the Danish writer's stay. The later literary prize and festival developed that memory into a cultural tradition of the town.