Vacation between saints and navigators: A day in Varazze

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A beautiful city of Riviera, between Mola and the tip of the tip dell'Aspera, from whose port about seven hundred years ago had left the ship Lanzerotto Malocello, navigator who discovered the Canary Islands. The Island of Lanzarote takes its name from him, a character symbol of the vocation Naval Varazze, a renowned since Roman times for its construction. The village was built next to the station of the Roman Empire For Navalia, and was mentioned for the first time in the tenth century under the name de Voragine, from which the name today, indicating a place where even christened the ship.
We start exploring this ancient maritime city on a street that until a few decades ago it was traveled by train: the Europe Walk, about five kilometers long, made the old single-track railroad track Genoa - Ventimiglia, combines Varazze and Cogoleto. Surrounded by the Mediterranean, the pedestrian path leads through rocks are dark green and white, passing through the old tunnels restored with the use of natural materials.
Varazze If today is one of the most popular tourist destinations of the Riviera, thanks to the hiking opportunities offered by its hinterland located in the Regional Park Beigua, centuries ago the territory was the scene of fierce battles between Genoa and Savona, and in some cases was also plagued by pestilence. Just this scourge is linked to the legend of St. Catherine of Siena, who arrived in 1376 in Varazze, and looking at the population decimated by the plague, he stopped to pray at a shrine to Mary. His prayers were able to free the city from the epidemic and the people in gratitude erected a chapel, which was later expanded and became the current sanctuary of Santa Caterina.
Among the many religious monuments of the city we also visit the sixteenth-century Church of San Nazario e Celso, located in the extreme western area of ??Varazze, outside the medieval walls, also known for its courtyard, paved with "risseu", with multicolored pebbles, and the Church of San Domenico, where he is buried Jacopo de Voragine, a Dominican monk and archbishop of Genoa, who lived in the thirteenth century and famous for having written the Golden Legend, a book on the lives of the saints.
Back in the old town, our walk continues through the colorful alleyways, full of charming shops and focaccia, to arrive at the Parish Church of St. Ambrose in 1916 rebuilt the facade in Renaissance style. Its bell tower about thirty feet high, the fourteenth-century "Campanin Russu," is the symbol of the city.
Postpone the visit to the aftermath menhirs, a monolith perched on the top and the hermitage Invrea Plans of the Desert, a seventeenth-century Carmelite convent in the hinterland, and we direct you to the pleasures of good food.
To start, we stop for a drink at the Wine Bar "Why Not", in Via Colombo. Sipping cocktails and enjoying the wide variety of appetizers and salads in stylish, chat with the owner Alexander, finding that only a few steps away is the Enoteca "Why Not", run by his brother Andrew. After an aperitif we move into the restaurant, make ourselves comfortable in the large outdoor area. "This is a historic building in 1912, was once a center of the Hotel Delfino. We manage since 2000, and after a beginning wine bar and brasserie, the place has evolved to be appreciated today for quality dishes made from fresh produce at reasonable prices, however, content ", tells Mr. Andrew, who manages the together with a local chef Ernesto Claudio and David, and Cecilia in the room.
Let's start with the local raw fish, a variation of the Ligurian fish stew revenue and a sampling of fine cheeses and cold cuts in combination with jam and wine. We follow this by rich appetizer noodles flavored with Rossese and more pieces of fried cod with olives, capers, pine nuts and pepper. Also sample homegrown linguine with anchovies and mullet, ravioli stuffed with sea bass, red mullet fillets with sauce and fresh tomato. Some of the group opted instead for a first land, plin borage sautéed with sausage and pecorino cheese flavored with pistachio pesto. In choosing the second we divide between fried of fish, grilled mixed fish and meat and fish filleted with local seasonal vegetables. Let's water them with good wine chosen from the 350 bottles available, including some thirty types of champagnes.
Our day ends on a sweet Ligurian, tiramisu mousse with white chocolate and desserts of mozzarella and toasted pine nuts with pistachio cream and dark chocolate pouring and after another walk on the waterfront lit by the stars .. .

Francesca Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.Varazze.sv.it
www.percheno.biz
Why not Enoteca
Corso Colombo, 50 Varazze (SV)
Tel: 019/930235