Riding through Ligurian outback: a day of relax in Garlenda, Italy

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A place where you get the urge to jump into the saddle of a horse, and it turns out that in addition to the horse riding there are also those of the historic Fiat 500, which had put "wings" under the feet of generations of Italians in the age the economic boom. Welcome to Garland, charming town of Liguria, not far from Albenga, the city of a hundred towers.
If the seaside town attracts many tourists during the summer, the hinterland has a stable year-round appeal: the paths in the green mountains of Liguria, the views that make you forget the stress of making us feel the great city of above the thoughts of every day, the air crystalline, the distance from the hustle and flavors typical of these places make captive sources of pleasure.
We arrived in Garland through the nose "horse" of some of our friends, with a passion for horse trekking, and while they went to have fun in the hills like a real Indian, the rest of the group decided to explore the place on foot .
We find out early, talking to the locals, that Garland was known in the Middle Ages, when it was part of the Marquis of Albenga. Thanks to its geographical position, near the sea but also the roads connecting the coast with the rest of Northern Italy, Garland became an important center for trade. It was then the Forty Anselmo, founder of the family and well-liked Lengueglia Of the population, to become Lord of the territory.
If he were alive, Anselm could tell what it was like the original Castle Garland: in fact, the ancient castle, built in the twelfth century, and destroyed in mid-sixteenth century, only ruins remain today, including a tower crippled and the area perimeter still visible on top of the hill.
Instead we visit the new one, called the "Castle of Meridian", built in the seventeenth century. Originally it was a guardhouse, and was later converted into residential accommodation, inhabited by Coast - Del Carretto.
Going around the country find that Garland is loved not only by lovers of horses, but also those of golf. Continuing our tour of history and modernity, we arrive at the Museum of the Fiat 500, named Dante Giacosa, the famous engineer who has designed many models of Fiat, including the legendary Mickey Mouse. Each year, the first weekend in July, the festival takes place in the village of 500, with a large gathering.
Let's also see a bridge from the ancient romance: the old stone almost completely covered by thick vegetation and dall'abbaiare dogs, loyal to their duty, who live nearby. Back in the heart of the city, visit the Parish Church of the Nativity, whose octagonal dome and bell tower in baroque style are truly fascinating, as well as the fine inlaid marble interior and a mysterious seventeenth-century painting, which some say was the Guercino . After visiting the Oratory, immersed in the precious shade of the trees in the center, we decide to stop for dinner at the Tavern Restaurant "Da Luciano", along the Via Roma.
As soon as we enter, envelops us a pleasant climate, family trattoria. "When we found this place in 2005, it was just a bar. The bar is always there, but we, who are real fans of the Ligurian cuisine, we have transformed the place into a tavern, and every day we offer the local specialties, mouth-watering, "he explained, and Mr. Luciano Mrs. Lena holders. We find confirmation of everything at once, while enjoying appetizers, all freshly prepared, fresh: pancakes, stuffed with Genoa, marinated anchovies, pasqualina the cake, carpaccio, veal with tuna sauce, cold cuts including salami, even spicy rabbit , and even the focaccia of Recco also offered as a starter and very well prepared by Mr. Luciano.
We continue with the trofiette pesto made with basil in the house, herb ravioli, tagliatelle with ragu sauce with nuts and pansotti. Washed down with fine wines of the Langhe and Ligurian, and pass on to enjoy the first seconds of the whole rabbit Ligurian, as well as delicacies such as octopus with potatoes, buridda of codfish, boiled to the Piedmont, while some of our friends choose a nice grilled meat. Our dinner ended with the tarts of the house, prepared by Mr. Luciano, in addition to the grandmother's cake with pine nuts and walnuts and pudding with peaches.
Definitely will come back to Garland in the fall and winter: in addition to discovering the charm of the face of these wild places, the culinary intrigue us, including the goat with the beans and wild boar with polenta, in addition to tasty news autumn for young people: pizzas, wraps and focaccia.

Bertha Frances

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Garlenda.sv.it
Osteria Trattoria da Luciano
Via Roma, 11 Garlenda (SV)
Tel.: 0182/582481