Touring with Magellan, to pass a day at Bacchus' table: a day in Savona

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A trip to Savona can only start, at least ideally, on the route of the great navigators. If we had lived a few hundred years ago, for our trip we might have used the charts Pancaldo Leon, the famous navigator Savona designed during the first circumnavigation of the world, accomplished by Ferdinand Magellan from 1519. Today, even if you arrive by car in Savona, was immediately met the famous sailor who accompanied Magellan in the difficult task, and whose journal, called the "Roteiro", remains a valuable historical document. In fact, one of the monuments of the city is dedicated to him: this is the Leon Pancaldo Tower, once called Quarda Tower, which has guarded the port for more than six hundred years at least.
The imposing fortress Priamar, located on the hill facing the sea naturally, was built in 1542 by the Republic of Genoa. To build the fort, the Genoese "evicted" several religious buildings existing on the promontory at the time of Priamar, even the oldest fraternity in Savona, the 1260 original, which then moved near the Oratory of Our Lady of the Castle Square Sixtus IV, near the City.
During our walk we discover among other things, that soap takes its name from the name Savona. According to legend, it was the wife of a fisherman discovered fortuitously Savona soap by boiling together olive oil and caustic soda. But Savona also excels in the higher spheres of culture: here is another fact, the Sistine Chapel, commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV Savona, the same which is called the Sistine Chapel in Rome, with frescoes by Michelangelo during the papacy of Julius's nephew II, born Giuliano della Rovere.
Among the many important religious buildings of the city, we visited the Cathedral of the Assumption and the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mercy, the patroness of Savona, built in 1536 as a result of an apparition of the Madonna. The Sanctuary has a splendid altar of Bernini and the precious paintings by Domenichino.
After this nice tour in the history of Savona, for dinner back in the heart of the city or the Port, Via Quarda Superior, just steps from the famous Tower. Here it is, right in front of the sea, the original Bacchus Tavern, a place full of life where the atmosphere is authentic trattorias port once. This thanks to the owner, Francis Doberti, known to all as Bacchus, a nickname he had been saddled with since he had always liked to eat and drink in good company. "I grew up in the port, to which I am bound by many experiences, both living and working, and that's why I had the idea to create a local port to continue the tradition of the restaurants of yesteryear. I opened the Tavern in 1984, "she says with irresistible exuberance Bacchus and sympathy, while we sit at our table. The restaurant is a real show: the eyes meet wherever a piece of maritime culture. There are models of sailing ships and boats hanging from the ceiling, fishing nets, flags, ropes, as well as a myriad of colorful paintings and drawings. Bacchus is now assisted by his son Pierfrancesco day, proudly following in the footsteps of his father. Stephen completed the staff, as well as the most likeable and Fabio Margaret Elisa, Concetta and Sveda warmly welcoming us in the room.
And 'with great pleasure that we begin to taste the dishes, simple and popular tradition of Liguria, proposed by Bacchus. We start with a very rich appetizer where the anchovies, prepared in different ways, are the prima donnas. We also take a salad of octopus with potatoes and marinated mussels. We follow these delicacies from the pasta with pesto and potatoes, spaghetti with fresh anchovies and spaghetti marinara. Some of us rather enjoy a good soup. In choosing the second do not reject the traditional cod and cod, which is prepared each day in a different way, as the latter made of anchovy. Some of us opt for a very good frying of fish, while others take the burrida fresh seafood, with shrimp, prawns, cuttlefish and squid. We enjoy another delicious traditional dish, cuttlefish with artichokes. On cold days, they explain, the Inn also offers dishes such as tripe stew, soup, pudding and boiled meats. Washed down with some excellent white wines selected by Bacchus, and we conclude our dinner in the great sweetness, fresh desserts, freshly prepared by the staff.
Do not fail to come back here during the summer, to enjoy other dinner from sea dogs sitting outside, with the port in the background, full of history and legends.

Frances Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Savona.it
Bacco Osteria
Quarda Superior Street, 17-19 R (Port Zone)
019/8335350