Where the Scrivia valley meets Romagna tastes: A weekend in Cassano Spinola
Going on a day of shopping and return home not only with a range of beautiful clothing, bought cheap, but also with the experience he had through centuries of history of Genoa and Monferrato and have enjoyed an excellent dinner based on traditional local dishes of the best: a pleasant miracle possible only in Cassano Spinola, the common site a few miles from Tortona, on the right bank of the Scrivia.
We arrived in this beautiful area of ??the border between the plains and hills of the Ligurian Apennines, while we were headed for the famous outlet of Serravalle Scrivia. Fortunately we came up with the idea that has proved brilliant, not to exit at Serravalle, we feared was blocked, but in Tortona, and then continue on the straight that leads to Serravalle. Along the way, not far from our destination, we discovered this lovely village in the countryside, which takes its name from one of the most important aristocratic families of the Genoese, the Spinola.
This powerful dynasty Ghibelline date is also commemorated by several famous paintings: a portrait of the Marquis Ambrogio Spinola, the work of Rubens, and Velazquez's painting that captures the surrender of Breda, conquered in 1625. A descendant of Ambrose Spinola, Maximilian, having inherited the rich lands in Spain and South America, he devoted himself instead to the study of tropical insects, becoming one of the most respected entomologists of his time.
After a first ride in the car in Cassano Spinola, we decide to stop at the hotel restaurant at 700, we spotted along the highway as we were to reach the center. In addition to a nice fountain with dolphins in front of the building, we were enticed by the words "Romagna cuisine," making us dream about the flavors of summer vacation on the Riviera. After settling into our rooms, we go for a stroll downtown, starting from the Castle, situated on a hill overlooking the village. Today, of the manor are some parts of boundaries and containment. Chatting with the locals discover that in the garden of the castle there is an old well that reaches the floor of the Scrivia. It is rumored that in the Middle Ages also serve the well pit and was equipped with knives and swords to catch the criminals, but this claim has never been confirmed by historians. We know for sure instead of the Parish Church of St. Peter was already there at the time, being early medieval foundation, with church functions. During our walk we admired several splendid palaces, as well as visiting the Chapel St. Antonio, a country chapel known because in 1799 it took place right next to the meeting between Don Luigi Mongiardino and General Moreau, during which the pastor was able to convince the French military to stop the terrible depredations that the French army was operating in the country. The encounter was also immortalized by a 1938 fresco by the artist Serravallesi Sauce, inspired by an older painting disappeared.
Getting back in the comfort of our hotel, before tackling the day shopping the next day, we surrender to the pleasures of the table. And in this the cuisine, managed with great care and passion by the owners, it helps a lot. We start with an appetizer of Romagna, the home-made flatbread, sliced ??mixed with warm flatbread, Charterhouse and parmesan. We taste a great mix of grilled vegetables with warm grilled Tomino, Bresaola della Valtellina with arugula, fresh mushrooms, olive oil and lemon, as well as Mediterranean fish soup hot with mussels, clams, crustaceans, squid and tomato, and all ' seafood antipasto misto at 700. We follow this by strozzapreti goodness to 700, with melted cheese, mushrooms and saffron, which helps us to stay young as an important antioxidant. Gustiamo also garganelli the gypsy, the pasta with swordfish, the gnocchi with gorgonzola and walnut cream, and pens to one of the jewels of the house. In the second choice of our group is divided between the fillet with mushrooms, fried frogs' legs, grilled Prague ham, grilled prawns and stir-fry the big fish. Let's water the fish dishes with a good sparkling white wine, we taste, but also some delicious glass of Gavi and Bonarda. The dinner concluisone surprises us with a kaleidoscope of desserts: tiramisu with strawberries, almond paste, chocolate salami, fresh fruit salad, trifle, as well as many kinds of ice cream.
The next day at lunch do not reject the rich buffet, with about thirty dishes of vegetables and plenty of salads, prepared fresh every day: the best way for us to hold office before an afternoon of shopping ...
Frances Bertha
FOR INFORMATION:
www.comune.cassanospinola.al.it
At the 700 Restaurant Hotel
Via Villalvernia, 104 Cassano Spinola (AL)
Tel 0143/47108
Fax 0143/478759