A day down to the sea, including sailing ships and sundials: Trip to Spotorno

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In the frame of our pictures that portray the vibrant waterfront Spotorno, if possible take a few hundred years ago, we saw the colorful bustle of traders, people who loaded the goods on the flaps, the typical boats carrying crews sometimes even thirty people who were leaving for France, Sicily and Sardinia. Victory Square where today, we could witness the launch of smart brigs, or the beautiful sailing ships with two trees that were built on the site.
Spotorno is now one of the favorite tourist destinations of the Riviera Ligure di Ponente and the city's charm stems not only from its superb location, even from its great historical heritage which has its roots in the ancient maritime culture. The coast was in 1953 Spotorno set of the movie The Beach, directed by Alberto Lattuada.
Our walk leads us to find much evidence of past centuries, often punctuated by harsh wars, such as that of 1226 when the nearby Noli, allied with Genoa, invaded and plundered Spotorno. To remember these and other battles, are now the ruins of the castle, destroyed and rebuilt several times, on the heights from which opens a wonderful view of the coast, but also the watch towers built in the late sixteenth century to control the sea and prevent attacks of the Turks and pirates.
Spotorno in the past was known even abroad for intensive production of lime, as evidenced by still some old furnaces that can be observed in the city.
Turning in the colorful Old Town, characterized by typical Ligurian alleyways, we come near the public library, where we see some nice tiles with funny drawings dedicated to the city: these are works made for one of the last editions of SpotornoComics, a series of comic satire and Every year has its climax in August during the Night of Vignette. In the 2006 edition was dedicated to the 250th anniversary of Mozart's birth, and that's a nice fish, the tooth-shaped piano keyboard, he asks with a smile: "Did you know that Mozart has gone from Spotorno?"
Certainly there are other famous people of past art and culture, as the British writer DH Lawrence, author of the novel "Lady Chatterley's Lover", and the poet Camillo Sbarbaro, a close friend of Eugenio Montale. Born in 1888 in Santa Margherita Ligure Sbarbaro, which is dedicated to the Library, stayed here several times, also because of its kinship spotornesi.
During our tour we also visit some beautiful churches, including the parish church of the Santissima Annunziata, with the inside of the works dating from the seventeenth century. On its facade stands one of the most beautiful cities of sundials, designed according to the use italics, (other than the method of sundials French), to show farmers how many hours of light are available.
Happy with this splendid day at sea we had to choose, even for our dinner, a room that reflects our joy: the Ma Zu restaurant, on Via Cavour. A Ligurian dialect name that indicates their "Down to the sea", and identifies this new inn that has already distinguished for its natural cuisine, brought by the owner Giacomo Gallina, chef with a long experience, that had led him to work famed for hotels and restaurants both in Italy and abroad. "This place was an old storage of fishing boats. In restoring it, we wanted to exploit this characteristic taste, combining it with contemporary décor, light, elegant, yet casual, "she says Mr. James, who runs the place with Giusy, talented creator of delicious desserts.
We start with an anchovy pie with potatoes and a vegetable escabece sweet and sour, and the zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta cheese, served with chopped black truffles. Gustiamo also seared prawns on a pink puree of peaches. We follow this rich appetizer of potato gnocchi with the lemon peel, vanilla and shrimp, and risotto with zucchini flowers and tuna sauce. Every dish we taste delights us with its light and flavorful character at the same time, due to the freshness of the ingredients and the wisdom of the chef, very careful also to health. Furthermore, we enjoy a delicious white diamond at the plate with caponata vegetables and taste some of us filleted sea bass with potatoes and mushrooms.
The grand finale of our dinner rewards us with a rainbow of sweet delicious must: the modern cash Giusy, the tart of Linz, the New York cheesecake and tiramisu.
We leave for the city of Liguria in the eye with color, yet confident that we will return many times, "Zu to the sea" ...

Frances Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
http://Spotorno.next.sm
www.zuama.it
Restaurant Ma Zu
Via Cavour, 36 Spotorno (SV)
Tel: 019/747891