The patron of Noli is Saint Eugene, and the holiday falls on the second Sunday of July. The legend told about him is one of the memorable ones: the island now called Bergeggi is said to have arrived off the Ligurian coast «ferrying» on itself Saints Eugene and Vendemialis, fleeing the persecutions of the Vandals. Eugene, bishop of Carthage, stayed on the island until his death, while Vendemialis sailed on to Corsica; the relics were later taken to Noli, which made him its patron — and legend adds that some years later they returned to the island by themselves.
In 1245 a bull of Pope Innocent IV suppressed the island's monastery, which along with the island passed to the Republic and the diocese of Noli: since then the saint's remains have been kept in the church of San Paragorio. Every year, on 12 July, for the feast of Saint Eugene, a procession of boats sets out from Noli and lands on the island carrying his relics.
