The presence of aRoman settlement has not been definitely proven. The burgh, known asPescino, was devastated byRothari in 641 and by theSaracens in the 10th century. Later it was a fief of theFieschi family until 1229, when it was acquired by theRepublic of Genoa.
In 1432 it was attacked by the fleet ofVenice and in 1549, together withRapallo, by that ofTurgut.
In 1813, under the Napoleonic domination, the two burghs ofPescino andCorte were unified asPorto Napoleone. In 1815, it was annexed to theKingdom of Sardinia as the commune of Santa Margherita Ligure. In 1861 it became part of the newly unifiedKingdom of Italy.
Connected by rail in the 20th century, Santa Margherita became a renowned tourist resort afterWorld War II.
Paraggi was a small village of fishermen and millers. It is located along the "Costa dei Delfini", halfway between Santa Margherita andPortofino. It is about 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) from Santa Margherita Ligure, reachable by bus or by boat.
Nozarego is a natural terrace over the Bay of Tigullio. Here there is the church of Santa Maria Assunta with the cobbled square in typical ligurian. From Nozarego also leave several trails in the Park of Portofino.
San Lorenzo della Costa is located on the slopes of the mountain, to the north, along theAurelia road that leads toGenoa. There is a Flemish triptych in the local 13th-century church.
