Il posto antico it fills with people and the waters in front are teeming with festively decorated boats. The program has always been the same for centuries: in the morning mass is celebrated at the Sanctuary of the Sailors, the sixteenth-century Basilica of San Francesco da Paola, where, in the cloister, the exhibition of model ships, marine paintings, photos can be visited vintage and votive offerings, which tell the story of the Genoese navy.
The sanctuary square also offers a magnificent view of the city of Levante. In the afternoon, the appointment moves to Calata degli Zingari, from where the naval procession starts, headed by the Harbor Master's boat with the statue of the saint, followed by a long procession of fishing boats, mooring boats, sailing boats and private motorboats.
Outside the breakwater, a wreath of flowers is thrown into the water in memory of those who died at sea, in the exact spot where, in 1970, the British merchant ship London Valor sank. The return is accompanied by the sound of sirens and bells on board, which kick off the colorful celebration along the Old Port, animated by music, band concerts, games and folklore shows.