Stella Maris Festival in Camogli 2025

The first time my wife and I went to Stella Maris, we went to see the 100th Anniversary festival; she was just two weeks away from giving birth to our daughter. It was summer 2024. We found a little 1.5 by 1 meter spot on the beach and settled in with our two favorite chairs, mostly just soaking it all in. The colors, the music, the glowing candles bobbing across the water, and those bright red flares people lit up at the base of the Basilica to illuminate it, it was beautiful.

It wasn’t chaotic. It was calm. Peaceful, even. A quiet, beautiful moment just before life was about to shift completely for us.

Fast forward to this summer. Our daughter is 11 months old now, and while we’re still not exactly flying around, we had a bit more freedom this time. (Besides the usual Camogli logistics, which is basically stairs.)

Normally coming from Recco we take the big staircase down into Camogli, but with a Stroller that is obviously not realistic. I then thought about taking the next really steep road that takes you into the marina directly, but I though it would be better to approach the promenade from down at the end of the town so we could approach the church from that direction.

This also allowed for us to walk through the upper market, which Gaby really likes as well. Eventually we made it down to the end and found the elevator that takes you down to sea level. At that point I found an overlook that saw a group of people waiting for it to get dark down on the beach so they could light their floating lanterns, and it was just a great view of the sunset and the boats out in the water as well.

The Magic of the U Dragún

There’s something surreal about seeing the U Dragún. It’s a small boat rowed by twelve men, slowly moving through the sea, small fireworks and flames bursting from the back. You occasionally hear the unified shouts and grunts as they row in sync.

The boat itself is kind of legendary. Originally a lifeboat from the early 1900s, it was rebuilt in 1968 and became a symbol of Camogli thanks to Ido Battistone and a group of friends. With hand-painted masts, twelve 4-meter oars, and a whole lot of heart, it’s more than just a boat, it’s a tradition kept alive by the Dragun Club and the spirit of this coastal community.

Even from the shore, without being able to see it up close, you can tell it’s something pretty amazing.

This whole thing isn’t just for show, it’s tradition. Paddleboarders and kayakers glide in from neighboring towns. Boats anchor just offshore for front-row seats. Locals and travelers crowd the promenade, shoulder-to-shoulder, watching as the U Dragún moves down the beach and back, flames lighting up the water and the sky as it passes. 

Last year I wasn’t able to get any close-up shots of the boat, and this year I made it a point to bring my Canon R5 MK II + my Canon 70-200 f2.8 MK III so I would be sure to get the shots I needed. Darkness + movement? I think the R5 MK II performed rather well!

As the procession carried on, I started taking some other photos of the Lungomare scene, as well as the floating lanterns in the sea, which were honestly quite beautiful. Maybe I’ll turn one of my shots into some kind of creative abstract art some day 🙂

One of my favorite shots was of a group of people bathed in light from a single street lamp, with the moon shining above their heads, all looking down toward the boat, totally absorbed in what they were seeing.

Before heading home, we stopped for gelato at Like Cremeria (highly recommend) and then grabbed two Spritzes from one of the little tables selling drinks to go.

Walking towards home with spritz’s in hand, trading off who was pushing the stroller, with the echo of it all still lingering behind us- it was a good feeling having another small adventure so close to home. Thanks again for a wonderful time Camogli – we’ll definitely be back again next year 💛