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!

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!

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.

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

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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.

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!

Luna Park

Amare

Viva la vita!

I really like and strongly appreciate all those moments in life that make me feel like a child. And they are twice as valuable in times of trouble. I bet you know what I mean.

One of those moments is being in a Lunapaaaaark (aka amusement park).

Lunapark Italy is now in Savona with several attractions as part of its annual tour. It is placed at the sea garden next to Priamar Fortress and will stay in the town until January 20 2013.

Don't mind the cold, put on your coat and come along!

I so much enjoy the feeling of screaming while you spin wildly on the swing carousel, eating candy-floss and getting your hands dirty. Il mio innamorato shot a dozen tin cans and won a plush toy for me.

Teenagers rushed into the place, especially into the scream zone, dressed in a same way and walking in small groups of boys and girls.

Each attraction had its own DJ and one could hear a mix of music from far away. And of course, the fuss didn't go without at least one play of ... Gangnam style. I really like the bustle in a place like Lunapark! I even prefer it against circus because the main character in a Lunapark is you.

All this reminds me of a friend of mine who got married in an amusement park. She's a grown child, you see.

And since Christmas is coming and everyone must be happy (by bringing joy to someone next to you), I just want to wish you to:

Have a Very Marry Cherry Christmas!

Christmas Market

Piazza

What will you give your family for Christmas? Surprise, surprise...

Since I never know what to buy as a present, the "Fiera di Santa Lucia" (Fair of Santa Lucia) was of great help to me. This is a traditional fair held on December 13 in memory of Santa Lucia from Syracuse. She is a martyr who was killed in 304 year in the largest and bloodiest persecution of Christians (303-311) which happened in the Roman Empire during Diocletian's reign.

In Italy, there is a cult to Santa Lucia and a festival takes place in many cities across the country near the winter solstice which occurs at about December 21. It is considered that it actually replaces an old festival celebrating the light. Thus, the martyr is now a protector of the blind, ophthalmologists, electricians and masons...

On the streets of Savona, the day of Santa Lucia is marked with a fair for selling a wide variety of typical Italian products like cheese, salami, sweets, wine, souvenirs, clothes and many others. This is the so called Fiera di Santa Lucia.

So despite the cold weather, I spent half a day with the crowds to view the exhibition of goods and to choose something for my relatives and friends. You can find everything you need from Christmas decorations to toys for kids. And most of them are very cheap indeed. There are some hand-made products like embroideries and carpentry. You can also buy un panino (sandwich) or a donut to satisfy your hunger while walking. There are also many sweet temptations like sugar-made strawberries, lollipops and candy-floss - my favorite since my childhood!

I liked the Advent atmosphere of diverse crowd rushing to buy something for their favorite people or themselves, the noise of their voices and some heating devices, the smell of roast chestnuts mingled with fresh donuts, and the various colors of the goods.

A TV reporter accosted me but unfortunately, I didn't speak well Italian so I wasn't of much help to him... It would have been funny if I appeared on the Italian television, ha!

In fact, the Fair of Santa Lucia took place on Savona's shopping streets in the city center so you could always move aside to some of the shops or at least look at the windows.

After lunch with my partner, I resumed my expedition but soon got tired. The good news is that all of the presents are packed and ready. Santa is coming!

All that left is to provide in stock at home delicious sweets and spirits, of course ☻

Grappa, which is a local alcoholic drink made of grape, is very popular in Italy and it was funny to see men at the age of my grandfather carrying bags with a sign "I ♥ Grappa"!

Salute!

Swing at Brandale

Piazza

One Saturday evening, when the weather was really cold, we were invited by our friend Delia to go to a performance of Amici di Gjango.


Video made by Delia

It took place in a pub in a medieval tower and this is exactly what I'd like to show you here.

Let me start with the fact that the Medieval Tower of Brandale is the oldest building in Savona. It was built in the 12th century to defend the city of invaders. Its name in Italian sounds like this: Torre medievale del Brandale and means "light, fire". In the past, fire had burnt on the top of the tower and thus had served as a lighthouse. The place had also been a seat of the city's Podestá. I read in a document that Savona's independence from Genoa had been signed in the tower. 

It has been restored to its original size of 49.60 meters and now has been going through a renovation process again. A huge bell called "Campanassa" is kept inside the tower. The bell had been installed to call people to the parliament. Today, Torre del Brandale is also called after the Campanassa and is one of the symbols of the city. There are many interesting stories related to it and some other time I'll tell you more about them.

This is a view to Torre del Brandale from Priamar Fortress.

Amici di Django played at Bar "Il Brandale" which is located, well, in the very tower of Brandale... We hurried for the gig and when we arrived, there was a crown on the square in front of the pub and the tower. It was the first time I visited this bar and I was truly surprised to discover that the band performed outside on a square called, of course, Piazza del Brandale! And it was in the winter!

People gathered around heaters spread among the tables on the square and in front of the musicians. And despite of the cold weather the mood was more than allegro! Of course you can always warm with a cup of aperitivo (as Italians use to say) and dances but heaters were a good addition for our cold fingers.

There were people coming and going, old and young, with dogs or children, some of them accidentally came across the event as they were passing through the square from the old town to the docks. I really liked a couple who came with that small retro-style Fiat and left inside it two little dogs... as guards, I presume.

Thus before I drained my cup of rum, I had realized that it's really cool to be on an open-air live performance in the winter.

Photo's been taken by Delia

Among the songs which Amici di Django played I recognized the Russian Ochi chyornye, When the saints go marching by Louis Armstrong, and of course, they played really good interpretations of Django Reinhardt himself. It was so nice to listen to them with a cup of drink and friends... and swing steps. 

Besides, drinking wine is very popular and a bottle of wine is not really expensive in most bars and restaurants. Some of them even offer "wine of the day" in their menu. If you prefer beer, then better order an imported one ☺

I also really like how they serve snacks with every drink you order here in pubs and cafes. When there is a special occasion, like the one that evening, they always prepare a buffet meal and it's free... oh yeah ☺

And one of the best things I really liked about the place is the view to the old dock with boats.

View to the old dock in daytime

Not to mention the smell of grilled meat on skewers and french fries! I truly enjoy food.

The grill was placed in a side street besides Il Brandale and some people claim that Christopher Columbus lived there in his parent's house a long time ago. However, I found no trace of this... So if someone has information, let them speak.

At some point I heard the big bell, Campanassa, tolling, probably to announce that it was late. We paid small attention though. And the swing continued.

So if you'd like to visit Torre del Brandale and the pub called after it, here's how to find it:


View Torre de Brandale in a larger map 

Next to it you can also find the Port of Savona and an office of Costa Crociere for cruise services. Just drag the map above up and right.

Ciao!