Bonassola is a town in the province of La Spezia on the Ligurian Coast of Levante, located in a bay with a beautiful sandy beach, sheltered by hills where evergreen pine trees grow and by terraces planted with olive trees and vineyards. The territory stretches for five kilometers and it consists of seven historic villages: Poggio e Scerno near Mount Rossola; Costella, San Giorgio and Serra located up high; Montaretto and Reggimonti on Mount Brino. The main center's economy, located near the Cinque Terre, is based on tourism and a selective wine and oil production. It is possible to practice various sports and there are natural preserved areas, including La Francesca, Valle Santa, Punta del Carlino and Montaretto.
In the past, the center was also devoted to the extraction of pyrite, activity that ceased in 1930.
The Vallis Bonazolae, as evidenced by the discovery of archaeological remains, was almost certainly inhabited in the period before the colonization by the Romans. The village, with a strong seafaring vocation, dedicated to the trading of olive oil, wine and chestnuts, was quoted in numerous historical documents, the first of which dates back to the XII century. Initially feud of the Da Passano, passed to the Republic of Genoa. In the XVI century the village expanded towards the coast and from the demographic point of view, until the invasions of pirates arrested the phenomenon. Followed the fortunes of the Genoese Republic: it was invaded by the French in the XVIII century, then it was inserted into the Sardinian Kingdom and in that of Italy.

Not to miss:

The Parish of St. Catherine of Alexandria, which was probably built in the XVI century. Over the centuries it has been refurbished several times and presents a very simple façade with three large windows and a small gable above. It preserves inside numerous paintings including those of Peter Costa, Antonio Discovolo and Giovanni Battista Carlone and a work of the school of Maragliano.
The Oratory of St. Erasmus, built at the beginning of the XVI century, severely damaged during the Second World War, is now a lecture hall.
The Chapel of the Madonna della Punta built towards the end of the XVII century.
The Oratory of San Rocco and the Parish Church of St Peter in the village of Montaretto.
The Church of San Giorgio in the homonymous village.
The Church of Santa Maria Assunta in the village of Reggimonti.
The Castle, at present turned into a graveyard. Its construction was decided during the second half of the XVI century by the inhabitants of Bonassola, San Giorgio and Montaretto to defend the area from the frequent attacks of pirates. The building was a source of conflict between the villages, sedated under the domination of Genoa. Today it has a square structure with two circular towers at the corners.