TERRA ITALIA Newsletter No 1 | 2022
Dear Readers and Fans of Liguria,
The challenges of the last three years have made us all want to return so some form of ‘normality’ this summer and despite everything happening around us, it seems we have. The Ligurian summer program is a colourful mix of beach life, captivating music and theatre festivals, breath taking firework displays and traditional folk festivals organised by the local communities. With this newsletter we would like to inspire you and share a few ideas on how to spend your summer in Liguria.
A holiday home, a second residence or a buy-to-let property are not only safe investments at times of uncertainty and inflation they are also an asset to your quality of life.
This newsletter does of course also address those who have already found their way to this beautiful region and are keen to keep exploring their surroundings.
I wish you a beautiful summer and a relaxing holiday,
Kind regards
During the summer months the days and nights may be warm but are never unbearably hot. The Ponente Coast (west of Genova to Ventimiglia) has been well known for its mild climate and beauty since the end of the 19th century but despite its popularity it never feels overrun. From mid July to the end of August the Riveria of Flowers with its many narrow beaches, the nearby Maritime Alps and its network of hiking paths of all levels and the historic villages and towns are keen to share their cultural heritage and events. In the following we would like to inspire you with a few suggestions.
Over the past 60 years the traditional Cervo festival has developed into an irreplaceable musical institution featuring all musical genres. With 18 evening performances Cervo invites guests to enjoy a rich and versatile cultural program. With the Piazza dei Corallini right on the sea, the church San Giovanni or the romantic Oratorium Santa Caterina in the heart of Cervo’s beautiful nature in the Parco del Ciapa forming the backdrop, accomplished musicians from around the world will delight you on many a balmy summer nights with their enchanting music.
Apart from chamber music of the highest standard the festival also presents Jazz, Theatre and as a novelty in 2022 there will be performances for children and also book readings. At the core of the festival is the ambition to particularly support young musicians. Thanks to a number of established parnerships the Cervo festival is one of the most important European music competitions for aspiring young talents.
For more information on the program please follow this link:
https://cervofestival.com/cervo-festival-2022/
You can also book tickets and download the festival brochure following this link
The close relationship between Apricale and the Teatro della Tosse has been going strong for more than 3 decades. For the past 28 summers actors, directors and stage workers of the Genovan theatre have turned Apricale into a magical place full of show stopping surprises. Every August they roam the medieval streets of Apricale stopping at various street corners to present their magic.
This year the characters straight out of ‘The magic Flute’ will wander the medieval streets of Apricale. This year’s performance was inspired by the Emanuele Luzzati’s renown illustrations of the magic flute. Tamino and his lover Pamina, Papageno, Papagena, the Queen of the Night, Sarastro and other captivating characters from Mozart’s magic flute are waiting to welcome you in Apricale. You can look forward to experiencing scenes ranging from comedy to phantasy, lightness and darkness and sense and sensuality.
https://teatrodellatosse.it/eventi/un-flauto-magico/
Tickets:
Regular price 25 Euro; concession 20 Euro; online 14 Euro, children up to 14 years 10 Euro
First come, first serve – so if you book early, you will be rewarded with a reduced price.
The first 500 tickets will be sold at 15 Euros each; pre booking available until 5th August 2022
The Nervi Music Ballet Festival combines the aspects of art, movement, music, mime and nature. In 2022 this festival is one of the most anticipated events in Italy as it presents the highest level of a creative art form combining dance and music. On 16 days the festival enchants its audience with classic and contemporary ballet displays, performed in some of the most stunning locations in Genova such as the Nervi parcs, the Villa Grimaldi Fassio, by the sea and amongst ancient trees and grand villas.
The festival in its current format has its roots in the International Nervi Ballet Festival, founded in 1954 by Mario Porcile as a major cultural event. It made dance history in Italy and around the world and until 2004 many well-known dance companies came to perform here. The Genova commune renovated the Nervi Parcs extensively and reopened the festival in 2019 under the new name “Nervi Music Ballet Festival”.
For more information on the full program and tickets please follow this link:
The picturesque medieval village of Dolceacqua with its legendary ruined Doria Castle and the well known Ponte del Diavolo attracts many visitors throughout the year. The Dolceacqua commune successfully organises a variety of events such as magical shows and theatre plays for all ages and is popular with tourists from all over the world and locals alike.
One of the most attractive events in Dolceacqua is the traditional firework display in the second half of August. This year it is scheduled for the 20th August and for the first time in combination with the “Autunnorero Ghost Tour Dolceacqua”. This nightly tour will be taking you through the history and secrets of the Doria castle and end with breathtakingly beautiful fireworks, illuminations and music.
Piazza Mauro, 8.00 pm, entry free.
The Hanbury botanical garden is a botanical masterpiece stretching over 18 hectare along the Capo Mortola between Mentone and Ventimiglia and all the way down to the sea. Sir Thomas Hanbury fell in love with this beauty spot and when he discovered the dilapidated Renaissance Villa Palazzo Orengo which was built around a tower in the 16h and 17th century, he was completely taken by the beautiful location by the sea. In 1867 he bought the land and started working with the intent to create one of the most beautiful gardens in Italy. Surrounding the beautiful Palazzo is a vast variety of more than 6,000 plants from around the world.
A guided tour through the botanical garden will introduce you to the history and secrets of Sir Thomas and Dorothy Hanbury. All Hanbury paths eventually lead to a picnic area beside the beach where in July and August you can enjoy your refreshments under the shelter of ancient trees and surrounded by scented flowers.
For more information please follow this link: https://www.facebook.com/giardinihanbury/?ref=hl
You can contact the Giardino Hanbury on:
+39 0184 229 507 and by email info@cooperativa-omnia.com.
Arising from Intuition and Chance: Sculptures, Paintings and Assemblages
As part of our introduction to open air cultural events we would like to introduce you to this internally recognized German artist and her life’s work.
With her work Carin Grudda has found a way of making notions such as invention, surprise, transition and seemingly accidental proclamations her focal point. It is no surprise that her research into Dada, Art Brut and Pollock’s Action Painting inspired her as well as the expression of childlike freedom and secrecy of archaic rites. (Luciano Caprile)
The artist was born in in Northern Germany in 1953 and from her early days art played a vital role in her life. The art exhibition ‘documenta’ was part of her growing up and she finished her university degree with a thesis on Dadaism and its philosophical implications.
Following a visit to the Villa Massimo in Rome and an internship at ARD Madrid in the early 80-ies she started working as a freelance artist in Frankfurt/Main exploring playfulness and its structures, as well as coincidences and paintings based on sensations and feelings.
In 1991 she obtained a scholarship with the South Florida Art Center + “Zero Art” in Miami where she worked on large scale artwork consisting of individually sized units which then come together as “groupings”. In 1993 Carin Grudda moved to Ingelheim on the Rhine where she created her “blue paintings” – a large scale cycle divided into various sizes.
Over her career Grudda kept developing new skills and explored various techniques such as design print and cold needle etching. She turns the sensation of “being on the move” into her subject and works on large scale paintings and installations. By the end of the 90-ies she moves on to painting wooden surfaces and driftwood objects and other materials which she then combines into three dimensional art installations. This gave the birth of her“portable angels”.
The bronze foundry of Pietro Caporrella in Torrita di Siena introduced her to new techniques such as foundry and she enthusiastically started exploring the new creative possibilities this material provides. She increasingly focused on creating bronze sculptures until she finally moves to Liguria in 2001 where she still lives and works.
Along her way she met well known artists such as Daniel Spoerri, Luciano Castelli, Nunzio, Arman or Tommaso Cascella and found international recognition for her artistic work. An invitation to the 54th Biennale in Venice and her taking part in the Triennale in Bad Ragaz Switzerland are just some of her achievements.
Carin Grudda once said:” Art is disturbance with the best intentions as it makes the invisible visible”.
“For me disturbance is the existence of small feelings and on a small scale on a sensitivity which has left its path”.
By observing nature she has developed the urge to manifest the constant change that is essential to our existence on paper, wood, bronze or canvas.
In Liguria Carin Grudda has created her very own place where she presents her work to herself and the outside world.
TRA I MONDI
The Sculpture Park of Carin Grudda
A symbiosis of art created by nature and art created by humans
The landscape is wild and untouched, all signs of civilisation far removed; the sculptures stood on the terrace enter a harmonious co-existence with nature.
Carin Grudda’s sculpture park is an open project undergoing constant change. Her intention was to create a peaceful place in a natural environment where visitors can feel and understand the deeply rooted connection between nature and her work.
She started the project in 2001 and over the years, time, experience and fantasy have naturally furthered her vision and let the project grow and mature into a place where nature and humans find a deep connection. By now Carin Grudda has reached a new level of her vision but the parc continues to undergo a constant metamorphosis.
The parc is frequented and brought to life by humans, animals and nature alike. New creations appear, others are being removed and so a constantly changing sea of nature, images and sculptures arises. Bronze sculptures are short lived and made to stay in equal measures. The parc is an open salon for visitors, friends, colleagues, children and cultural projects amidst beautiful nature. There are weekends when a rich mix of art in nature, the sounds of quaking frogs, human chatter, chirping crickets, baaing sheep mix with a pianist playing the piano, sopranos singing an aria or Italian chansons, Tango and Tarantella – there is no limit to experiencing all art forms at one.
Tra I Mondi (Studio, Exhibition, Parc)
Opening Times:
Friday and Saturday from 3.00 – 7.00 pm or with arrangement.
Lingueglietta
Phone: +39 018391242
For more information on Carin Grudda and her artwork please follow : https://carin-grudda.de
Anchovies – the bread from the sea
Summer in Liguria calls for fresh and light eating. Liguria is bursting with products waiting to be turned into tasty recipes. Ligurian anchovies are just one of many such ingredients.
Anchovies can be found plentiful in all oceans, but the Italians have mastered the best technique how to preserve and turn them into a delicacy and add their characteristic taste. Ligurias’ salted anchovies are a protected delicacy recognized as PGI (protected geographical indication). In Liguria anchovies are known as “pan do ma” (bread of the sea) with its appearance, consistence, colour and taste being all important. At Saccardi anchovies will only be caught between April and October under the Lampara method (at night and under the light of lanterns). The catch will then be cleaned by experienced workers, covered in salt and finally marinated in vinegar until the fish turn white and soft. Finally, they are placed into jars and covered with sunflower oil.
They can be eaten straight from the jar on bread or baked, fried or grilled. Anchovies are an ingredient in “fritto misto di mare” and a vital addition to pasta sauce – delicious.
The Magiargé is a lively Osteria in the charming old town of Bordighera. The rooms all have vaulted ceilings and the walls appear to be built into the rocks. Some 40 people can be accommodated in two rooms and during the summer months food will be served al fresco on the piazza. The cuisine keeps strictly to traditional Ligurian recipes varying over the seasons and what seasonal produce are on offer. The food is simple but excellent and only uses the freshest and best of ingredients. Depending on the season there will be homemade pesto, trombette courgettes, artichokes, pumpkin and broad beans, meat and pasta dishes, freshly caught fish such as anchovies, bonito, seabass, mackerels and swordfish.
The wine cellar deserves a special mentioning as it stores hundreds of good local and foreign wines. There are wines for the most distinguished taste as well as simple wines for every day enjoyment. The Margiare is known for its friendly service and good value for money. It is recommended to book beforehand as the Osteria is a popular restaurant.
For more information on restaurant Magiargé and its wines and cuisine please follow:
Osteria Margiaré Vini e Cucina
Via Dritta 2
Bordighera 18012 (Old town)
Opening times:
Wednesday to Sunday
12.00 – 2.00 pm and 7.30 tp 10.00 pm
For reservation call +390184262946
“Brandacujun” is a traditional recipe for creamed stockfish soup Ligurian way and is one of the most traditional Ligurian recipes (P.A.T.) The aromatic crème is served as a starter on warm bread or as nutritious second course. The recipe originates from old ponentian seafarers who always had potatoes and stockfish on board so they could prepare this dish between crossings. Traditionally the potatoes and fish were shaken until they turned into a crème, a task carried out by those who could not do any other work – the “Cujun”.
Ingredients:
- 800 g stockfish,soaked
- 600 g potatoes
- 30 g parsley
- 30 g pine kernels
- 1 bunch parsley, chopped
- 2 hand full of Taggiasca olives, stoned
- Lemon juice
- Salt, white pepper
- Native Taggiasca olive oil
- 2 Table spoon Taggiasca olive paste
- Rustic break
- 1 garlic clove, peeled and chopped
Method:
Peel and half the potatoes and add together with the stockfish in a pot with water but no salt. Cook the fish and potatoes for some 10 minutes and remove the fish from the pot; boil the potatoes for another 10 minutes and take off skin and bones from the fish.
Drain the potatoes and add to the pot together with the fish, give it a good shake to loosen the ingredients, add some olive oil and mash it with a potato masher until you have a compact mass.
Add chopped parsley, a bit of lemon juice, chopped garlic, roasted pine kernels, olives and olive paste.
Slice the rustic bread and roast in the oven at 200* until golden brown, rub with a garlic glove and serve with the tepid Brandacujun.
Liguria’s coast, the hinterland and the mountains open up to all possibilities for sporty activities and inspire to try out new sports with experienced instructors.
The coast is a perfect sailing resort and a number of sailing schools hold courses for obtaining a sailing permit.
Yacht Club degli Aregai, Santo Stefano al Mare
Riviera Vento, Andora
Circulo Nautico, Velamania
Giucai, Finale Ligure
Circolo Velico, Imperia
The entire length of the coast is perfect for swimmers and opens up for a number of other water sports such as surfing, kite surfing, wind surfing and stand-up paddling. Competent surf schools give 1:1 lessons, group classes, childrens’ classes and private instructions for advanced surfers. There are also courses in jet-skiing, Kajaking, water skiing, swimming and aqua gym.
No Stress Team – Windsurfing Center – Bordighera
Ponterosso Windsurf Center, Diano Marina
Club del Mare, Diano Marina
Windsurf, jet ski, kayak, water ski courses, Bagni La Scoliere, Diano Marino
Windsurf courses La Rabina, Imperia
Windsurf courses Circolo Velico, Imperia
Kite-Surfing courses, AKI Surfing Park, Andora
Windsurfing, SUP, aqua gymnastics, swimming courses, Windsurfing and SUP School, Varigotti
The crystal clear water of the Mediterranean sea invites to experience unforgettable diving moments. You can hire diving equipment and take lessons with experienced divers:
Continente Blue, Alassio
Bergeggi Diving School (also boat diving, night diving, underwater navigation, underwater photography, wreck diving), Alassio
Cycnus Diving Center (also night diving, underwater photography), Finale Ligure
West Coast Divers (also night diving, underwater navigation, wreck diving, deep diving), Impera
Le Poseidon, Nice
The Ligurian waters also invite to go high sea fishing on the Mediterranean Sea or explore the rivers and streams in the Ligurian hinterland.
The Ligurian hinterland with the Arroscia Valley and the region surrounding Finale Ligure is popular with rock climbers of all levels. The Blumountain Guide Alpine in Finale Ligure is the best base where to learn rock climbing. Experienced guides will equip you with the right gear and take you on tours like the tour del Monvis and Tour dell’ Argentera. For those in pursuit of hiking the Ligure da Scoprire team in Imperia offers guided tours and bird watching excursions.
Liguria is also a perfect terrain for cycling and mountain biking. Cycle and mountain bike hire as well as guided tours can be found at:
Finale FreeRide, Finale Ligure
Riviera Outdoor, Finale Ligure
Biciclando, Diano Marina
Riccardi, Alassio
Emporio Bike, San Bartolomeo al Mare
Tennis is another sport to pursue in Ligure and the recommended clubs are:
Tennis Club Solaro, San Remo
Hanbury Tennis Club, Alassio
Tennis Club, Dolceacqua
Golf can be played on the following courses:
Garlenda Golf Club, Albenga
Circolo Golf Club, Sanremo
Golf Club, Arrenzano
Golf Club, Castellaro
Golf Club, Rapallo
The best place to go canyoning is the Arroscia Valley and courses are offered by:
Blumountain Guide Alpine, Finale Ligure
Odyssee Verticale, Nice
Movimento e Natura, Parnassio
Resonable base camps for paragliding: