Tellaro and the legend of the giant octopus

At the very eastern end of the Ligurian coast, where the hills slope steeply into the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean, is Tellaro, a small fishing village. Its pink, orange and yellow houses clinging to the rocks above the sea, its narrow stone streets and all thethe silence, broken only by the sound of the waves, gives the impression that time has almost stopped here.

The village of poets

Tellaro is one of those places that you fall in love with immediately and forever. It is no wonder that poets and writers have found their way here - Eugenio Montale, for example, who drew his inspiration here. Tellaro is part of the so-called Golfo dei Poeti, the Bay of Poets, and its atmosphere truly evokes poetry in its purest form.

The village belongs to the municipality of Lerici and is part of the prestigious list of "I Borghi più belli d'Italia" - The Most Beautiful Villages of Italy. It's not hard to see why: not only for its location, but also for its history, culture and traditions, Tellaro offers a unique experience.

Tellaro

The legend of the giant octopus

Tellaro is not only beautiful, but also mysterious. One of the most famous local legends tells of a giant octopus that was supposed to save the village from a raid by Saracen pirates. According to the story, one night a violent storm arose, and just then a giant octopus emerged from the sea and climbed the tower of the church of St. George(San Giorgio), ringing the bells with its tentacles. The villagers were thus warned and fought off the pirates' attack.

To this day, this legend is still remembered by the locals every year during the Octopus Festival(Sagra del Polpo), which takes place in August and celebrates not only seafood but also the fisherman's identity of Tellara.

Tellaro and the Church of St. George

Christmas underwater

Another exceptional event in Tellar is the so-called Underwater Christmas. Every Christmas Eve, in the darkness of the sea, thousands of candles are lit, and a group of divers bring up from the depths a statuette of the baby Jesus, which they place in a manger by the church. This moving ritual, accompanied by bells and fireworks, attracts residents and visitors from the surrounding area.

Small village, big charm

Tellaro is not large, but that is where its charm lies. Instead of tourism, you'll find peace, the smell of salt, flowers in ancient pots and old fishermen sitting on benches watching the horizon. You wander its streets aimlessly - and that's exactly the point.