The town is made up of the two distinct settlements of Borgio, on the coast, and Verezzi, in a marvelous panoramic position on the hill. Formerly possessions of the bishop of Albenga, they came under the rule of the Del Carretto of Finale for brief periods and were ceded to the republic of Genoa by Pope Urban VI in 1385. Borgio’s main attraction is the cave of Valdemino, an underground complex that is open to visitors, drawn by its delicate calcareous concretions and fascinating series of small lakes. The shrine of the Madonna del Buon Consiglio is also located at Borgio: dating from the twelfth-thirteenth century, it was once a church dedicated to St. Stephen and St. Peter and still houses fragments of frescoes from the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Other attractive features include the fine Gothic campanile with a spire, the seventeenth-century portico and, not far off, the lookout tower known as the Torrione, built in 1564. At Verezzi a number of the medieval houses have a structure that reveals the influence of Saracen architecture. The enchanting Piazza di Sant’Agostino, overlooking the sea, is used in the summer to stage an open-air theater festival of international standing, culminating in the award of the “Premio Veretium” to the best actor. The event draws some of the most prestigious touring companies.