The ancient Rome seen under the shade of pergola: a day in Quiliano, Italy

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Speeding on the Highway of the Flowers is a panoramic "fly over" deep valleys, passing within a few minutes through the heart of the mountains covered by dense woods, but just to find out at the first junction of routes "slow", which told how people lived in the same places thousands of years ago. A few minutes drive from Savona, and here we are admiring the Roman bridges of Val Quazzola, Quiliano. Among the giant bridge and these beautiful stone bridges, built between the first and second centuries, there are nearly two thousand years apart. In pre-Roman tribes of the Ligurian Riviera communicated with those settled beyond the Apennines along the winding paths and fraught with dangers. It was probably a Roman soldier to report to Cicero of those paths, we are talking about even in the correspondence of the famous Roman politician and writer.
A Quiliano the atmosphere quiet inland, although historically the town had access to the sea, which is important for the production of salt without duties. And speaking of breathing the air of Quiliano does really well: in the city are many who remember the two women born in the late nineteenth century and lived until a few years ago, both having reached 110 years of age.
Walking in the center we see the Capuchin Monastery and Church of Our Lady of the Angels, who stand out among the olive trees at the top. Begun in 1575, the Convent was built in reaction to the Protestant Reformation of Luther, and participated in its construction the entire population with the guidance of Capuchin Father Cherubino, in the beloved country.
Today, the religious center of the town is the parish church of San Lorenzo, but every village has its church: the church of San Michele Arcangelo in the hamlet Mountain, Holy Savior in Valleggia, and San Bernardo Garza, to name a few. We also visit the Church of San Pietro in Carpignano, called St. Pe of Coi, or St. Peter's cabbage. The church is the heart of an important archaeological site, came to light during the excavations carried out since the '50s. The origins of the religious building dating back to Roman times, and first written about are dated 1180. Today, walking through the Natural Archaeological Park, you can admire the ancient church, you can visit the Archaeological Museum Hypogeum, the Garden of mirabolani, the Cloister of cedreto, as well as along romantic paths along the river, and stop at the tourist recreational facilities that host events periodically.
Among the good reasons to visit Quiliano there are also those tasty: the fraction Valleggia, also known for his beautiful oratory of San Sebastian, is home dell'Albicocca Valleggia, Slow Food. Occurs between late June and early July, the largest festival dedicated to this tasty fruit. But the wines no joke: the Review of Buzzetto, the typical white wine Quiliano, anticipates the harvest every year the first weekend in September, while the Granaccia, typical of the red city, is celebrated with the Rossi of Liguria, in the month of in May.
Intrigued by the culinary traditions of the place, we decide to give us a nice dinner at the Trattoria La Pergola, in the hamlet Valleggia, Pilalunga in the district, in Torcello. "This place has more than one hundred years. At first it was a place where mail is refreshed the teamsters. In the 60's was a local dance, with the jukebox, young people came here to fetch the ice cream. We manage since 2007, offering a tasty regional cuisine, "he told the owners, chef George, said in Liguria" bacan u ", ie the head, his mom and dad Andrea Gabriella, big fan of rallying, as evidenced pictures on the walls.
We settle in the large outdoor terrace in the cool shade of the arbor, and start with a rich appetizer: Sant'Olcese the salami, the cottage cheese in the house, potato cakes and anchovies at San Remo. We continue with the testaroli with pesto and Ligurian trofie with rabbit. Our friend enjoying a vegetarian menu specially made for her, which includes the hollow Pilalunga, with rice mixed with nuts and vegetables jumped. We follow the first by an irresistible delicious veal chops grilled Piedmontese fassone, while the rest of the group chooses the typical buridda stockfish. Let's water dishes, all freshly prepared with local seasonal ingredients, with the excellent and famous wines and Buzzetto Granaccia. The two children who are with us enjoy doing large: it can be ordered as adults, from a menu designed especially for them.
We end on a sweet note with delicious homemade desserts, thinking about when to come back here next time, maybe for a hike autumn cycling between the villages of Quiliano.

Bertha Frances

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Quiliano.sv.it
Trattoria La Pergola
Via Torcello, 3 Quliano (SV)
Tel.: 019/882541
www.comune.Quiliano.sv.it
Trattoria La Pergola
Via Torcello, 3 Quliano (SV)
Tel.: 019/882541