ITS FOOD & DRINK
Liguria is synonymous with pesto, the celebrated green sauce made with basil, pine nuts, garlic and pecorino cheese, which for centuries has had gourmets the world over licking their chops. Here, in its undisputed homeland, you can savour pesto with trenette or trofie in the region's many restaurants, where it is often proposed in menus with many other typical dishes. From pansotti (filled pasta) combined with sauces made from walnuts, mushrooms or cheese, to tomaxelle (roulade of meat with cheese, eggs and bread), the unusual cime alla Genovese (meat stuffed with herbs, carrots, eggs, cheese and brain). Ligurian cuisine also features a panoply of fish and seafood specialities, with ciuppin (a variety of fish cooked with tomatoes, celery, carrots and onions) and the exquisite zuppa di budego (angler fish), rinsed down, perhaps, with a nice bottle of Vermentino wine, or Pigato from the area of the Cinqueterre. Still, the undisputed queen of Genovese gastronomy is the ubiquitous focaccia (or fugassa in the local dialect), to be savoured in slices just about anywhere, as was the case in antiquity. In fact, there are those who claim that in the late 1500s people even munched on it in church. Amid a variety of excellences, a goodly sampling of sweets begins with baci from Alassio (small balls of hazelnut dough combined with a fine layer of dark chocolate) and pandolce genovese (similar to panettone).
ITS SIGHTS
A wonderful blend of seaside scenery, tradition and worldliness. Starting with the coastline of Tigullio, boasting renowned beachfronts the likes of Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante, and Chiavari, with its enchanting Baia del Silenzio. A succession of ample beaches, marinas and settings just waiting to be explored, which, in the evenings, give way to glamorous parties and fashionable shopping, above all in the many charming alleyways, where one can still find hand-knit embroidery work and original damask fabrics. As an alternative, head for the no less attractive Riviera di Ponente, dotted with gems such as Sanremo, the city overflowing with flowers and palm trees, renowned for its Festival of Italian Song and for its Casin.; or the refined Bordighera, passing by the town of Portovenere, with its fisherman's quarter, and Alassio, which stands out for its 3 kilometres of fine sandy beachfront. A must destination for unabashed yachtsmen and VIPs passing through is the exclusive marina of Portofino, and if an incursion to Genoa is planned, don't miss visiting the Aquarium and Lantern Tower (which has been the city's symbol for centuries). At La Spezia, the must stops are the Duomo and Castello di San Giorgio, literally divided in two (with one part built during the 1300s and the other in the early 17th century), while those seeking a unique nature experience can go whale watching in the area re-baptised the Sanctuary of Cetaceans. Specially designed boats with all the necessary safety measures take tourists out to socialise with sperm whales, whale calves, dolphins and grampus, while fully respecting the complex ecosystem and allowing all of these species to swim about safely and freely. |
