The old port fills with people and the waters in front are teeming with festively decorated boats. The program has remained the same for centuries: in the morning, a mass is celebrated at the Sanctuary of the Sailors, the 16th century Basilica of San Francesco da Paola, where in the cloister you can visit the exhibition of ship models, marine paintings, vintage photos, and ex-votos, which tell the saga of Genoese seafaring.
The sanctuary’s square also offers a magnificent view over the eastern part of the city. In the afternoon, the event moves to Calata degli Zingari, from where the naval procession departs, led by the Coast Guard boat carrying the statue of the saint, followed by a long parade of fishing boats, mooring boats, sailboats, and private motorboats.
Outside the breakwater, a wreath of flowers is cast into the water to honor those lost at sea, at the exact spot where, in 1970, the British merchant ship London Valor sank. The return is accompanied by the sound of sirens and ship bells, marking the start of the colorful celebration along the Old Port, enlivened by music, band concerts, games, and folkloric performances.
