Full immersion day through Liguria's pottery: tour of Albissola Marina, Italy
Stroll along a mile of a mosaic, created by artists such as Lucio Fontana, Roberto Crippa, Giuseppe Capogrossi, Sassu, all under a thick row of trees behind which cheerful glimpse of the crystal blue sea to experience this fabulous experience just go Albissola Marina. The Promenade of Artists is in fact the first half of our trip in this town situated on the Ligurian Riviera and founded by the Ligurians Ingauni in prehistoric times. Built in 1963, the path of artistic mosaics are among the symbols of Albissola Marina, a village known for centuries in the world for its ceramics, which begins production was from 1122.
Into the historical center, we find one of the most picturesque villages of the Riviera, with alleyways that wind in a Ligurian calidoscopio of vibrant colors, keeping intact the ancient medieval atmosphere. Workshops and laboratories meet some potters' everywhere and inside you can admire infinity of objects made by hand, often in blue and white, to remember the splendor of the sea.
Before us, had come to Albissola many famous travelers, that we "speak" even a crocodile that achieved by Lucio Fontana for the historic Giuseppe Mazzotti Ceramics Factory. The reptile-size art is exhibited in the Museum of Garden Factory, as a symbol of the age in which many futurists, including the founder of the movement Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, frequently visited Albissola Navy to make the ceramic works at the Mazzotti manufactory.
During our walk we also visit the sixteenth-century parish church of Our Lady of Concord, admiring, in addition to its baroque façade, built in the twentieth century, and the large courtyard in black and white stripes in pure Ligurian style, a number of valuable works of art placed inside. It overlooks the same charming Piazza St. Joseph's Oratory, built in the seventeenth century.
Albissola Marina there is also a piece of Novara: Villa Faraggiana, now an exhibition of art, built in the eighteenth century as the residence of the family of Durazzo, then left to the city of Novara by the last owner Alexander Faraggiana.
Having traveled the length and breadth of this beautiful coastal city, we decide to stop at a local restaurant for dinner at the Ristorante Pizzeria Au Caruggiu in Road Island. As soon as we enter, we see on the walls of many awards earned by the owner Nicholas Angileri, including a title of world champion in the Creative Pizza in Las Vegas and earned two third place obtained the Italian Chef Wars. But we chose this restaurant for a reason even more important in our group there are three celiacs, and here all the dishes can be made gluten-free mode. Not only that talking with Mr. Angileri, we discover that he founded a company that produces high quality food using raw materials free of gluten: Gluten-out, as the brand. "The secret of our cooking is the care and love with which we prepare the dishes, pizzas and dishes from the restaurant. To make a good pizza is essential for a long rising, "explains the owner. The first we taste delicacies are fresh scones with sesame seeds red, as the Sicilian tradition, given the origins of Mr. Marsala Angileri. We continue with the stew of mussels and clams with fresh tomatoes, a starter mixture of stuffed squid, octopus poached, stewed mussels, clams and octopus salad. Among the first we choose the bucatini with sardines Sicilian style, risotto with seafood, potato gnocchi with seafood and noodles Mare e Monti clams, zucchini, mushrooms and shrimp. We follow these delightful first filleted by Oratino crusted zucchini, while some of us enjoy baked sea bream with artichokes Albenga, pine nuts and olives pitted. Taste all the local specialties: grilled octopus with potatoes. Washed down with wines selected from around 320 labels, including wines with alcohol content of 9.50 for a drink aware. Our friends who have chosen instead the pizzas, they taste among other things, "Italy 90" and the Mundial. But the star is pizza "Au Caruggiu", with tomato, garlic, parsley, mussels, clams, squid, shrimp and prawns.
Our day ends in Albissola Marina from a variety of sweet temptations, to which we do not resist: first, the Sicilian cassata with no candy, made with fresh ricotta with chocolate chips, and then the jam tarts, oranges and almonds and jam, peach and amaretto, cake and sponge cake with ricotta cheese, chopped pistachios and pistachio frosting.
Bertha Frances
FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.albissolamarina.sv.it
www.glutenout.it
Ristorante Au Caruggiu
Via Isola, 12 Albissola Marina (SV)
Tel.: 019/485252