Loano is a seaside town on the Riviera delle Palme in western Liguria, set along the ancient Via Julia Augusta — two Roman bridges still stand, including the “Pontetto” now buried beneath the modern Aurelia road.
The town was abandoned during the Saracen raids of the 9th and 10th centuries, its population fleeing to the mountains. It revived after 1263 when it became a fief of the Doria family, who encouraged resettlement with generous tax concessions. The Palazzo Doria, with its 16th-century loggia overlooking the sea, remains the centrepiece of the old town. Today Loano is a popular beach resort, quieter than its neighbours along the coast.