Summertime

Mare

It's been so hot lately that you can't step with a bare foot on the sand. You can fry an egg on it, I bet, especially at noon.

Beaches are usually full of people, however not crowded... not yet. But this morning, the beach I normally go to, has been almost empty. The reason: partly cloudy weather. Nice! I wouldn't burn like a toast, I thought...

In such a day I like watching people. You know, the beach is an ideal place since so many different people gather there.

I think the girl and the boy on the left photo were sister and brother. And it seemed to me they were French.  Later on, a group of teenagers, boys and girls, arrived, went directly into the water and started showing off.

The sea in June is warm and excellent for swimming while in May the water is still cool. Besides, you must be cautious for underwater currents. There aren't lifeguards on the public beaches so your safety is your responsibility.

A boy was learning to surf although waves were not so big there. By the matter of fact, waves turn very close to the beach due to the very steep underwater slope, I suppose. The positive thing is there aren't sharks here ☺ At least I haven't seen any...

However, there are whales. If you love to, you can go on whale watching sail to see how they mate (from July to September). Check out this guide for whale watching for season 2013. I want to try it myself!

A very old lady was led to the water by an attendant and she stayed there for quite a long time. The sea is so calming, so romantic and energizing! It's a great place to be at any age. My dream is to live by the sea when I get old or at least beside a lake... But today we don't know what will be tomorrow.

The city center is only one-park far from this beach and you can go there for a walk or you can have a drink on the beach.

Besides, it's also the season of watermelons, there are plenty of them in June and I adore them, especially in the hot afternoons or evenings. A kilogram of watermelon is about 59 cents! It's cheaper and much healthier than an ice-cream ;-) So go for it!

Climbing Monte Carmo

Exercise yourself

It was a hot day in May. And we joined a group of experienced Italian trekkers, friends of ours, on a hiking walk to Monte Carmo.

Monte Carmo is a fantastic summit of the Ligurian Apennine with altitude of 1642 meters. You can find more info about its hiking treks here. My partner and I, I have to admit, felt so exhausted in the middle of the way up that we decided to make this wonderful shelter our final destination for the day:

There was a barbecue that day and therefore, so many people gathered on the green grass. Sausages and salad, pasta of course, delicious cakes, wine and beer: it was a little piece of paradise indeed! Not to mention two ginger cats resting on the window of the cottage and ready to snuggle...

The view from that place was unspeakable too as your sight can catch both mountain and sea.

Besides, there was a small basin full of tadpoles! It was first time in my life when I saw tadpoles. Obviously, May was a mating season for frogs.

After spending an hour or so in this splendid place, our guides led us through another route on the way back and we found lots of herbs like mint and dill. We passed by climbers so if you are fond of vertical rock climbing, you will definitely find a suitable place on the way to Monte Carmo. We also found lots of mushrooms and even very big ones. However, I am not an expert in this field.

Our journey started and ended at Loano - a nice seaside resort town in the Italian Riviera. Hopefully, next time we will be able to climb the peak and come back with many more and picturesque photos. 

Display of Pastoral Vestments

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Piazza Duomo in Savona

There is a display of images of pastoral vestments and attributes dated couple of hundreds years ago and it takes place at the courtyard of several impressive buildings in the historical city of Savona. So, if you enjoy sightseeing then this is a must-see place for you. Four historic buildings, Cathedral dell' Assunta, Capella Sistina (Sistine Chapel), Oratorio del Castello (Oratorio of the Castle) and Vescovile Palace (the Palace of the Bishop), comprise a splendid complex which can be find at Piazza Duomo (Cathedral Square), right here.

The facade of the Cathedral has been going through a process of renovation now. You can still get in when its open and I promise you, it is one of the most magnificent buildings in Savona. The entrance to the courtyard is usually open and from there you can enter the Chapel and the Oratorio. It seems to me that the Bishop's Palace can be reached from inside the Oratorio.

You can also use a guide's service to show you around and I think they can provide guidance only in English or German.

The exhibition takes place in this beautiful garden and it was quite an interesting display of different clothing materials because it seems to me that the "pastoral fashion" hasn't changed a lot for several hundred years. Besides vestments, you can also see marvelous candlesticks, crosses and even holy remains.

Items are displayed through photographs with very high resolution not "in real". We left our message in the visitor's book too.

In the end of this corridor there is a direct link to the Cathedral so you can enter it from there too. It is interesting that in some of the churches in Savona you can pick up a candle from a bunch and leave a donation, as much as you decide, instead of paying a price for it. Quite often, you can see people who are resting or praying in the churches here too.

There are two photos on the collage above: the left corridor will lead you directly to the Oratoria while on the right side of the next corridor you'll find the Capella Sistina.

So you can spend some time at this place especially if you are fond of history or you are looking for a tranquil place in the heart of the city to muse for a while. Taking photos is allowed only in the courtyard ☺

Welcome to Savona and the Italian Riviera

Mare Amare

The season is open, the sun is shining and the sea is inviting. So take on your hat and let's have a bath on the beach!

Last days there was a red flag on the beach but the weather becomes better and better every single day.

The western beach of Savona is narrower than that beside the sea garden but is much much longer. So you can go for a long walk along the sea and pass by beautiful buildings in Art Nouveau style like Villa Zanelli.

You can see rows of long palms behind the beaches which is the reason why Savona is also called Riviera delle Palme. You can sit under their shadow in the sea garden and listen to the waves breaking against the shore.

If you choose the beach by the sea garden you will be very close to the Priamar Fortress and Piazza Garibaldi.

There are lot of bagni along the beach that administrate it and you can rent a place which basically includes a sundeck and umbrella and a wardrobe. You can rent it for a day, a week or the whole season and each bagno (a bath) has a price list with additional extras.

Each bagni has its distinctive color like red, blue or yellow so you can choose.

Bagni Savona

You can sit on the balcony in one of the bars along the beach and take a cup of real Italian espresso or a cocktail and enjoy the view.

Next to the bagni there are public areas and you can have a sunbath, a picnic or whatever and wherever you'd like. Piazza Garibaldi is right above one of the public beaches and will lead you straight to the city center.

So what more to say about this place where the sea is azzurro and full of joy.


You might also want to know:

• How to reach the city of Savona;
• Where to stay in Savona;
• And where to spend some money ☻

A walk through Riserva Naturale Regionale Adelasia

Exercise yourself

It's getting warmer and warmer with the spring. And if you enjoy hiking and walking in the woods, then Riserva Naturale Regionale Adelasia is a nice choice to spend a day or two.

It is about 25 km from Savona to there and you can choose either the highway or the country roads. Anyhow, if you are fond of winding narrow mountain roads, you'll find them on your way to Reserve Adelasia.

There are various hiking routes there: longer or shorter. We took 2 hour round trip among the woods.

We still could sense the remains of the last winter: the trees haven't been bloomed yet and there wasn't so much vegetation as expected in April. We even saw few piles of snow in the distance.

There were many streams that crossed the walking paths so it is a good idea to be well prepared with hiking shoes or with a spare pair of stockings at least ☺

And since "Adelasia" is a natural reserve, all of the species there - its flora and fauna - are protected by law. So don't tease the little creatures that you encounter...

But surely, you can admire them.

Alright, we started from the main entrance of Adelasia and followed trail No 1. We very quickly reached a refuge and a laboratory for environmental education (Cascina Miera) which was 767 meters above the sea level.

Cascina Miera

If you want to make a reservation for an environmental workshop, get a hold of the hut at:

CEA Province of Savona Via Amendola, 10 - 17100 Savona Tel 019/8313547 
E-mail: @ f.mordeglia provincia.savona.it

Website: www.provincia.savona.it


At the hut we had a quick snack and moved on. We passed through tall trees and lianas, a soft blanket of dry yellow leaves and moss, accompanied by the whistle of birds. We even saw a wildlife laboratory, probably used by the students from Cascina Miera. Next we reached a beautiful panoramic rock from which you could see the snowy peaks of the Alps.

I think I saw a hook in the rock and we assumed that probably some people had used it for climbing.

I must say the place is not crowded with tourists. You can enjoy the nature and your trip distracted only by the wild inhabitants of the forest...

After the rock we waded through shallow streams and at that point I regretted I hadn't taken a second pair of stockings with me. Anyway, dipping into cold spring water can be refreshing indeed ☺

Soon after that our trip finished. Route No 1 offers you quite easy excursion through the forest and you can take it for approximately 2 hours and a half. On your way you might find mineral stones and interesting plants and perhaps, you will rarely encounter animals since most of them avoid human contacts.

There are 4 major walking routes in Reserve Adelasia that last from 2 to 6 hours and vary in difficulty level. You can check them out here.

Buon viaggio!

A day in the countryside

Exercise yourself

One of the best-loved sides of Savona (for me), besides being a coastal city, is its relatively close position to the mountain. So take out your car or get on a bus number 11 and head for Quiliano village and the mountain.

Quiliano is located northwest from Savona and is a typical mountain village where people are friendly and during the spring, trees are covered with lovely blossoms.

Actually, our prime destination was la Chiesa San Michele Arcangelo which you can reach after travelling on a winding road after you exit Quiliano. It is about 10 km far from Savona and so, if you follow "Montagna" (mountain) signs on the road you won't be mistaken. However, in case you lose your way to the mountain, local people will be very open to help you...

A view to la Chiesa di San Michele Arcangelo

We parked the car in an off-road area just below Montagna village (northwest after Quiliano) and reached the church after climbed a steep, but short, path among the woods. The actual date of its construction is unknown. However, the church is mentioned in old books dating from 1141. It is speculated that it was built by Lombards - German people that migrated to and in fact, invaded Italy and ruled a kingdom there.



It was closed on Sunday so we took our time to look around.


Montagna (Quiliano) is an amazingly tranquil place in the Ligurian Alps. Later, I found information on the hiking and bicycle routes in the area so you can check them out here.

The Ligurian Alps have a lot of paths leading to the summits and thus, it is a favored place for hiking treks, and which reminds me about a Chinese proverb saying that you can test whether someone is a real friend of you, if you only take them with you in the mountain... /take a minute to think about it/




With respect to us, visiting Quiliano and Montagna in a sunny day was quite a relaxation and an energizing experience.

First of all, you can get dizzy by the alternating scenes of colorific gardens and steep alleys. I have to admit that our strange presence barked the dogs in the village but people we met there were so friendly and seemed so lighthearted. I bet they have problems of their own as anyone else but do not look overtaken by them.

And we meowed the only cat (in the perimeter). I think it expected us to give it something delicious...










I spotted so many lovely creatures in both Quiliano and Montagna like goats (well, maybe devilish ☻), sheep, hens, I only heard a sound of what I thought might have been geese, and a pony that posed for my camera!

Moreover, I learned a new expression of greeting in Italian: Salve!

I've noticed that people in Italy have a sense for placing a group of junks together in such a way that they look just fantastic. For instance, a cellophane pack cut into pieces and tied to a fence to wave on the wind. Not to mention their genuine fondness of flowers, especially in Liguria where different kinds of flowers grow during the various seasons of the year.

At some point, a light rain began to fall down and took our little excursion to an end. We hurried through the downward path back to the car. And as we left the mountain, any trace of the rain vanished. We left behind the cheerful montagna and made a wish to visit it again.

What do you like to do on Easter?

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The Easter is preceded with processions on the streets of Savona. Children on age of 10 or so walk on the streets of the city carrying wooden stages of Biblical scenes and led by two priests. They stopped right under my balcony and sang songs to praise Christ.

This happened the day when we returned from our little trip to Bulgaria. And passing through ice and snow in Slovenia, we arrived at sunny Italy ☺

It rained cats and dogs on Saturday, but on Sunday, the Easter day, the spring came back to Liguria and we made our minds quickly - we took out the car and went out for a walk in Spotorno.





Spotorno is a splendid town in the Italian Riviera. That day, on Easter, its streets and piazze were crowded, its cafes and beaches were full with people. There was a musical orchestra marching on the streets and a market for vintage goods. I bought a small porcelain box for my mother.

We had a drink and snacks (a mix of sea food and meat) on the beach. I so much enjoy the excitement of the crowd during holidays. There was a feeling of allegro in the air. You are tempted to look behind the doors of a church or a little shop, to have a real Italian espresso in one of those cosy cafes in a colorful square or a really narrow street decorated with flowers.

When the sun began to go down we got back in Savona to prepare a delicious supper. You see, this is an inevitable ending for a wonderful Easter.

So where do you like to be on Easter: in the mountain, in the city, or on the beach? I think that being with your favorite ones is the best choice of all.

The Ligurian Sea

Mare

The spring has officially come this year and the mare is more magical and wavier than ever.

One morning I went on my regular jogging on the beach (we must keep ourselves in a good shape, mustn't we?) only to see that the waves were reaching the sand levees one after another, so I chose a different route for my running time. Besides, I took some time and did several shots of this amazing Ligurian Sea.

As usual, retirees were sitting on the benches at the beach talking about politics or whatever. Workers were preparing bagni di mare (sea baths) which you can see along the beach coupled with nice seaside restaurants.

People are working for the upcoming season and you can really sense Savona's metamorphosis.


Then I went to the breakwater to catch some nice waves crashing against it but I didn't see such amazing November waves as those I admired at Celle Ligure last year. Anyhow, the breakwater seemed to be a favorite place for dog owners to take their pets out on a walk as well as the beach is a popular choice for them, I must add.

The next day I saw a man sitting on a chair on the rocks musing by the sea. Nice.

On my way back I saw two surfers. The shore here is such that waves turn and crash very close to the beach. These are deep waters here and if you can't swim (as myself), you must be cautious.

After this chap got over the wave I walked past and got back home to do some other useful things...


Now when I have to travel for a while, I feel as I am going to miss the sea - a strange feeling that can be explained only by someone who lives by the sea, I believe.

Shopping fever in Savona

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What's behind the Gothic archivolts next to Il Torre Del Brandale?

There is the entrance to the old city of Savona, a maze of narrow Mediterranean streets, cosy cafés and ... many boutique shops.

The May sun drove me out of home on a walk to the town's old city. This is the place where you can feel the spirit of both the Mediterranean and the Italian culture as they are shown on the movies. And even more: you can sense the smell of bread and flowers, the colorful shop windows and the nice breeze coming from the docks.


Each street leads to smaller or bigger piazza and I, in my search for a hunting club (bird feathers in particular), chose a way that led me to Piazza della Rovere. (Perhaps you remember my short review of the history of Savona's major families. Well, one of them was Rovere.)

Just round the corner you will walk into the Rovere square.

The light building with the two columns is called Palazzo della Rovere. Alright, it was built by Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere himself (later Pope Julius II) in 1495. This is the largest building in the historical center of Savona and was designed by a Florentine architect, Giuliano da Sangallo. Noteworthy, the queen of Spain, Germana di Foix (wife of Ferdinand V) stayed in the palace during 1507. In fact, the building has a long and intriguing story which I will try to tell some other time.

The palace is located at Via Pia - a beautiful Renaissance street and the main alley of the old city.

Not to mention how many little shops are located on Via Pia - so many fashion shops besides souvenirs, fishing tackles, book stores and others. Well, I found some of them really expensive. Anyhow, this is the place where you can spend a bunch of money for really unique goods.

I carried on and via Pia led me to my most favorite cafe in Savona located at another square - Piazza della Maddalena. I'll tell you that Piazza della Maddalena is the heart of Savona's historical center and holds this name, obviously because of a shrine on the corner of a building. It is an eighteen century shrine and is dedicated to the "Lady of Mercy" which became the symbol of the old city.

Oh, I can just sit in this cafe and contemplate... You can have a cup of cappuccino and a croissant only for € 2.10. An old man was reading his newspaper there, a lady passed by for a quick coffee. By the way, Italians tend to drink a cup of coffee with one big swallow e fine.

After the pause, I continued my walk on Via Pia and thus I reached Via Paleocapa or the main shopping street in Savona. Here we are ☻

However, this story is about Via Pia and the little boutique shops on it. There you can also buy gifts to take back home. You can literally lose yourself along this street and its many branches where besides your shopping fever, you can see amazing architecture, portals, churches, taverns...

With respect to me, I didn't find feathers. Maybe I should look more thoroughly. Anyway, I had a great time. And talking about shopping, there is a detail to mention about. Most of the shops in Savona have a quite long lunch break - from 12.30 until 15.30 ☺ Italian way...

The Rock of Madonnetta

Mare

In a rainy day like today's I want to write about something bright and shine. So, here is a story about a rock in the sea.

Walking along the deep blue Ligurian sea from Savona to Albissola, you will see it, just a few meters from the shore, the Rock of Madonnetta, that is the rock of Virgin Mary.

On the top of the rock, there is a column with a small statue of Virgin Mary in it. The story tells that is was built in the far 1963 by someone Francesco di Nicola Grossi whose identity wasn't determined yet. The Madonna, also called a Star of the sea, is considered a guard of the entrance to the harbor, and is typically honored with many lights on May 21st. I'll try not to miss the event...

Many young people from Savona and Albissola have been baptized at the Rock of Madonnetta. Lots of people come here in the summer and jump from the top of the rock too. The place is ideal for scuba diving even if you are not very experienced.

We made a commitment, we will come back to this place in the summer and dive in those waters (after I learn to swim, of course!).

And there is a small wild beach close to the Madonnetta, an absolutely tranquil place in an out-of-the-season day.

So how to find it. Just walk on the main sea promenade that ties Savona and Albissola, the neighboring town, and you'll see it after a tunnel.


There is only one disturbing thing I read about: a plan for building a marine port around and next to the Rock of Madonnetta. Many civilians protest against this and I should agree with them. The place is so beautiful and appealing because of its wildness. It must stay as it is now ☺

Who is Giuseppe Garibaldi

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Chi é Giuseppe Garibaldi?

For Italians, he is a patriot who contributed to the achievement of the Italian unification and liberation from foreign rule.

For Uruguayans, he was a commander in a war of liberation from Argentina.

For Americans, a soldier who volunteered his services to Abraham Lincoln in the Civil War.

For people all over the world, his name is a symbol of a battle for liberty and justice, independence of peoples and women's emancipation.

When he was born there wasn't Italy but small separate states. What he had learnt in South America about warfare techniques, he successfully applied in his homeland against the big neighboring powers. Thus unified Italy came true in the end.

Why am I referring to Garibaldi now? Well, a person needs a figure to inspire them sometimes. And Garibaldi was not only a great master of warfare, but I reckon that his ideas about liberation of people's mind from prejudices (religious, racial and others) was one of the reasons for his charm and power.

Today, you can find so many places around the world dedicated to his name: streets, squares, plaques... In Savona, his monument can be seen in the sea garden, next to Priamar Fortress. The square has a direct connection to a public beach where you can enjoy the beautiful Ligurian Sea.

Some places to stay in Savona

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Alright, I'm going to tell you about two places where you can stay when you visit Savona and enjoy a typical Italian atmosphere.

The first one is Riviera Suisse Hotel located at the very city center on the shopping street via Paleocapa. You can quickly reach the docks and the historical center from there. There are many restaurants and bars nearby the hotel too, so you won't be getting bored easily.

The hotel is located at the Popolo (people) square (see a map) where you can get on a bus to both the cruise terminal and the train station.

You can also take a taxi from Piazza del Popolo or go by walk if you prefer. So the location is definitely its biggest advantage.

The second place is B&B Alba Mare which looks to the sea promenade and in fact, if you stay there, you will be accommodated next to one of Savona's beaches. The location of the place can be found on the main road Vittorio Veneto (see a map). Close to it you can find a sea garden and next to it the Priamar Fortress. There are also lots of seaside restaurants and cafes as well as an Olympic-sized pool!

There is also a nice playground for children nearby B&B Alba Mare with a fountain and direct view to the sea.

Translated from Italian "alba mare" means "sunrise sea"... Well, what more can I say. The place is just perfect.

Of course, there are many other options to stay at Riviera delle Palme. So hurry up and plan your vacanza!

Winter in Savona

Mare

Who says it is sunny Italy?!

This picture was taken this morning from my balcony. There is charm in a beach covered with snow so white. You can see mist on the horizon and the sea is blending into the sky.

I only cannot understand one thing: How can it snow horizontally?! Well, living next to the sea usually goes with everlasting wind.

I was longing to see snow here for so long and eventually my dream has come true ☺ But it is going to last a single day, if I am to believe the forecast.

For some people, though, the snow and the wind are quite a scary scene... An old man from across the block opens the window on every 10 minutes, with a cap and a coat put on, to check the weather conditions outside.

With respect to myself, well, I enjoy my winter day!

How to reach the city of Savona

Exercise yourself

If you decide to visit Savona some day, you won't go wrong. Here you will find fantastic beaches, medieval architecture, and mild Mediterranean weather. There are lots of cosy cafes and restaurants and allegro mood.

The beautiful Riviera delle Palme is located west by Genoa. Its shores are washed by the Ligurian Sea on the south where you can watch whales and dolphins in the summertime. On the north are the Ligurian and Maritime Alps and Savona lies just between them and the deep blue sea.













Here you will find some useful information on how to reach that God-blessed land.

I. Of course, the fastest way to reach Savona is by plane. There are `four international airports nearby:

The Airport of Genoa-Sestri. This is the closest airport to Savona. The journey from Genoa to Savona by train is about 20 minutes or so. Here are some of the flights to/from this spot /in alphabetical order/:

1. Air France - flights from Paris-Charles De Gaulle.
2. Belle Air - flight from Tirana.
3. British Airways - flight from London-Gatwick.
4. Ryanair - London-Stansted.
5. S7 Airlines - Moscow-Domodedovo.
6. Turkish Airlines - Instanbul.
7. Vueling - Barselona.

Turin-Caselle Airport. Some flights from/to here are /in alphabetical order/:

1. Air France - flights from Paris-Charles De Gaulle.
2. British Airways - London-Gatwick.
3. Brussels Airlines - Brussels-Zaventem.
4. Easy-Jet - London-Gatwick.
5. Iberia - Madrid.
6. Lufthansa - flights from Frankfurt and Düseldorf.
7. Ryanair - flight from Barselona, Brussels-Charleroi, Glasgow-Prestwick, London-Stansted, Malta, Dublin, Ibiza.
8. TAP Portugal - Lisbon.
9. Turkish Airlines - Istanbul-Atatürk.

Airport Cuneo-Levaldigi. Some flights from/to here are /in alphabetical order/:

1. Air Arabia Maroc - flights from Casablanca.
2. Air Memphis - Hurghada.
3. Belle Air - Tirana.
4. Blue Air - Bacau.
5. Wizz Air - Bucharest-Otopeni.

Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport (also known as Milan Bergamo Airport). Some of the flights to/from this spot /in alphabetical order/:

1. Air Dolomiti - Moscow-Domodedovo.
2. AlMasria Universal Airlines - Cairo.
3. Belle Air - Tirana.
4. Blue Air - flights from Bacau, Bucharest-Henri Coanda.
5. Carpatair - Timisoara.
6. Pegasus Airlines - Istanbul-Sabiha Gökcen.
7. Ryanair - flights from Barcelona, Beauvais, Berlin-Schönefeld, Billund, Birmingham, Bratislava, Bremen, Budapest, Brussels-Charleroi, Dublin, East Midlands/Nottingham, Eindhoven, Fes, Groningen, Frankfurt-Hahn, Krakow, Lanzarote, Lappeenranta, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, London-Stansted, Maastricht/Aachen, Madrid, Manchester, Marrakech, Moss, Palermo, Paphos, Porto, Riga, Santander, Seville, Stockholm-Skavsta, Tallinn, Tangier, Tessaloniki, Vilnius, Warsaw-Modlin, Wroclaw, Zaragoza.
8. Volotea - Nantes.
9. Wizz Air - flights from Arad, Bucharest-Henri Coanda, Cluj-Napoca, Gdansk, Katowice, Prague, Skopje, Sofia, Targu Mures, Timisoara, Vilnius, Warsaw-Modlin.
10. Wizz Air Ukraine - Kiev-Zhuliany, Lviv.


II. Arriving with a cruise ship. There are excellent Mediterranean cruises that pass by countries like Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Egypt, Spain, Portugal and France, and land at Savona. If you are fond of pleasure boating, this is just for you.

III. International travel with a train.

Well, after you arrive in Italy, you can catch a train to Savona. If you come from Genoa, the journey won't last more than 20 minutes. If you come from Milan, then it will take you about 2 hours and a half to reach the Riviera delle Palme. And if you choose to go by train, you might need to know:

• The schedule of the trains is listed on the website of Trenitalia. There you can check the schedules of all regular trains /tutti i treni/ or those of arrows /le frecce/.
• The phone number of the information service of the Italian railways is 892021. However, you might need to speak Italian ☺.
• If your train ticket does not include a booked seat, then you must validate your ticket in one of the machines on the platforms before you get on the train! 

Here you will find information on how to use public transport to quickly cross the city of Savona. You might prefer to take a taxi. Then the phone number of Radio Taxi in Savona can be of use to you: 019827951.

And finally, if you want to walk around and see many different places, then you can rent a car.

Whatever you prefer, sea or mountain, you will find it here.

Bon voyage!

The wavy Ligurian Sea

Mare

Do you like the sound of a wavy sea?

Well, after the last evening's experience of four earth tremors, I have decided to go to one of Savona's beaches this morning. And to contemplate at it: the beautiful deep Ligurian Sea.

And everything looked just as usual: windy weather, many people walking their pets on the beach , ducks floating in the nearby channel, fishermen, and ships on the horizon. Yes, a day like any other. Except the fact that there were several small earthquakes last evening. But local people seem undisturbed at all.

After the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson in Northern Italy

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In 1787, on 28th of April, Thomas Jefferson passes through Savona on his way back to France. At that time he was a governor of Commonwealth. What the future president of America was doing in Italy and through which places he was passing by is what I am going to show you next.

While Thomas Jefferson was spending some time in France inquiring business opportunities there, he also decided to explore "the rice country of Piedmont" in order to understand why European consumers refuse Carolina's rice... As a result he did quite a big tour of Northern Italy.

What is more, his alpine and seaside journey Thomas Jefferson did on the back of a mule, alone, and anonymously. That's an adventure!

Alright, I did quite a map to show his approximate route from France to and through Italy and the places he visited:


View After the footsteps of Thomas Jefferson in Italy in a larger map

Here what Thomas Jefferson said about Italy in his Autobiography, 1743-1790:

"Here are nightingales, garden warblers, gardeners, pheasants, partridges, quails, a superb climate and the opportunity at any time to change from summer to winter climbing in the mountains. The earth produces wine, olive oil, figs, oranges and all products the garden ..."

I believe everyone will agree with his remark on the climate and the opportunity to switch easily from summer to winter ☻ This is true especially in the region of Liguria.

What followed was adoption of some agricultural crops by American farmers. Among them his favorite was the olive. However, it grew on South Carolina's and Georgia's land with poor success. Anyway, Thomas Jefferson classified three things as top necessities of life: olive oil, wine and books...

Off topic: A noteworthy fact is that the olive marks the extent of the Mediterranean climate.

Savona Historical Buildings III: Il Brandale

Piazza

One Sunday, when it was a sunny winter day, an old man accosted us in front of Il Brandale and told us a story about popes related somehow to the tower and the city. Then he showed us a coat of arms on the wall of a neighboring building and said it belonged to a powerful familia (which one I don't know).

Since I couldn't understand much, I decided to do my own "research" on the subject☻and I found the following.

Several powerful families had a significant impact on Savona's history in the past. They delivered 3 popes in total to the world and helped the city to flourish. Who were they?

First of all, there is some mystery around Il Brandale: no one knows the actual date of its construction although there is evidence that it was built in the 11th century. What's more it is argued that the name of the tower might belong to a family that owned it during the early medieval ages. What is sure is that Hildebrand's (Italian Ildebrando) originated from this familia and Pope Gregarious VII was a Hildebrand himself. He was known for seeking "to establish the supremacy of the pope within the Church and the authority of the Church over the state" /source/; a probable author of the so called Dictatus Papae (the dictates of the pope).

So it is believed by some that Torre del Brandale belonged to his ancestors. The tower is now called A Campanassa which is the name of the big bell installed in it. An interesting fact is that the docks of the old port (Vecchia Darsena) were located just a few meters from the tower in medieval times. (A highway lies between them now.)

A view to Il Brandale from Vecchia Darsena

Two other names of popes were related to Savona's history too: Sixtus IV (originally Francesco della Rovere) and Julius II (Juliano della Rovere). Both of them were part of Rovere family thanks to which Savona had became a cradle of the culture in Western Liguria during the late fifteenth century before it fell down under Genova's governance.

This is to explain why they call Savona "The City of Popes". However this is not the end of the today's story. Next to Torre del Brandale, you'll also find other two medieval towers: Torre Riario and Torre Corsi:

A view to Torre Riario and Torre Corsi located at Piazza del Brandale

These two towers were, obviously, named after other two powerful families in medieval Savona. For example, Riario was an Italian noble whose mother was one of Rovere's, Bianca della Rovere and thus, he was a nephew of Francesco della Rovere, namely Pope Sixtus IV. What a fortune! After all it is all about power and influence, isn't it? You know, they say that blood relations and la familia as a whole have always been important in Italy when it comes to business.

Well, this is all I found about Brandale's relations to Popes. Perhaps there's even more. Some other time I'll tell you about the old city's gate - entrance to its historical center and many small shops.

How to boil pasta like a real Italian

Exercise yourself

How to boil pasta in Italian style for the hungry souls? Here's how:

Perhaps you've heard that pasta is ready if, thrown against the wall, it sticks on it. This is wrong, very wrong - say Italians and shake their heads. If the pasta sticks on the wall, it means that it's overcooked and you can trash it. On the contrary, the pasta must be al dente.

So follow these 2 simple steps:

1. Leave the pasta to boil for 1 minute less than what is indicated on the package.
For the curious:

This is so because the pasta will continue to cook in the pan with the sauce.
2. Transfer the pasta into the pan with the sauce and stir energetically for the last 1 minute.

Enjoy your meal!

Italian lesson III: A route to the sea

Mare  Exercise yourself

That's right, this is a wordplay. It is about a street taking you out to the sea.

You know about the beautiful Ligurian sea. Some time ago we went to a neighboring town, Vado Ligure. It lies on the motorway to France in the west and its port is an important logistic terminal which handles more than a million tones of shipments annually.

A view of the port.




















It manages the traffic of a great variety of products: vehicles, wood, soft commodities and metals. Besides, the port is also known for pleasure craft and over half a million passengers pass through it every year. Not to mention that it is a big employer due to the volume of the traffic it manages.


While we were walking near the port, we spotted a sign on a route "Via di fuga a mare". So isn't it a street which can take you out to the sea? Say it Via "Fuga a mare":

It is indeed but not exactly a street. Actually, this is an exit runway to the sea.

If you understood the wordplay, then try to answer this question:

How do we say "street" in Italian?

Quick tour of Savona: from the Train Station to the Port

Exercise yourself

If you visit Savona and the Italian Riviera, you might need to know how to quickly reach the Cruise Port from the Railway Station or vice versa. Here we go.

1. By train

If you arrive in Savona by train, the fastest way to go to the Port or the city center is by bus. It is cheap and fast: 1 € for a ticket and 10 minutes for the trip. The bus stop is on the left side of the Railway Station and there is no way to overlook it when you go out from the main entrance of the station.

Here how it looks on the map:

View Railway Station in a larger map

There are three bus lines you can get on: 62, 7 and 5.

Line 62 goes directly to the Port called Palacrociere, while lines 7 and 5 don't but can bring you to the city center. Going to Palacrociere from the center by walk will take you not more than 10 minutes. Although it brings you directly to the port, bus 62 goes through a longer route as to show you the city.

Keep in mind that bus 62 runs only when cruise ships arrive on the port! To check this, visit the webside of Porto di Savona or check timetables here (just for double check).

If you get on line 7 or 5, you will have to cross the old dock, that is Vecchia Darsena.

Vecchia Darsena

There is a bridge you can go through to cut the route. But if you carry luggage with you, it might be a bit of inconvenience. And if the bridge is lifted for a boat to pass beneath, you will have to go round, just along the old dock with the boats or you can wait, of course, for the bridge to get down again.

A new bridge is been built now to replace the current one and hopefully, to make it more comfortable to the passengers.

Part of the construction site of the new bridge

The timetables of all bus lines including 62, 7 and 5 can be found on the webside of TPL which is the local public transport in the Province of Savona.

You can buy a bus ticket at any newsstand or bookstore. There are different colors of tickets, though, and you will need a pink ticket to get on bus 62, 7 or 5!

One more tip: buses don't stop unless you wave them.

2. By cruise ship

Alright, if you arrive in Savona with a cruise ship, you might need to catch a train for another place or walk around the city center. The best way is to get on bus 62 which will take you directly to the Railway Station. The bus stops in front of the Palacrociere, very convenient indeed. It passes through one of the main shopping streets of Savona, namely Via Paleocapa.

By the way, I found three different timetables of line 62 - one in a local newspaper, second in the webside of the local public transport, and third on a bus stop at Via Paleocapa ☻ After all, this is part of the unique Italian charm. And bus 62 runs frequently anyway.

View to a cruise ship from the bus stop at Via Paleocapa

If you'd like to walk and look around, the distance between Palacrociere and Via Paleocapa is very short. Just cross the bridge at the old dock, then a zebra and the shopping street is vertical to the clock tower shown on the picture. This is "Torretta" and is one of the symbols of the city of Savona. You can see the city's flag on it.

At the same time, you might want to go to the opposite direction from the port and then you'll find a medieval fortress, namely La Fortezza del Priamar.

Wherever you go or however you visit the Riviera delle Palme, I promise you, you'll be captivated!