by Gianfranco Barcella
(The complaint of Selvaggia Lucarelli for the expense incurred by a customer for table service of an empty saucer, or the two euro tax for cutting a piece of toast do not reveal the true face of Liguria). Garlenda enchants, set in the Lerrone valley. It is among the most evocative villages in the Ligurian hinterland (which does not suffer from the phenomenon of depopulation) with beautiful framed woods, fruit crops, olives and vineyards that delight not only the sense of sight but also that of taste. And the mind is delighted with the wines .
It is a small Eden for those who love to delight not only in sweet idleness but also wish to engage in sports. Garlenda fascinates with her aristocratic beauty; she is a gem to be discovered in peace but allows you to increase your culture and at the same time your physical form.
Let’s start in order….. For the get back into shape a holidaymaker can take beautiful walks in the large meadows that cover its surroundings in greenery and frequent its numerous sports centres, such as the equestrian center with the riding school, the skating rink and the golf course. I deliberately focus on the Golf Club one of the most prestigious and exclusive in Italy, open since 1965. It has a pitch 18 holes, surrounded by greenery with a charming artificial lake that creates a quiet and relaxing atmosphere.
Laid out in Val Lerrone in one of the most fascinating settings of Western Liguria, it perfectly follows the surrounding natural environment where two very distinct landscapes follow one another, between the first nine holes and the second nine holes. And it hosts international level competitions. But the Garlenda club also firmly believes in youth activity with the aim of encouraging the aggregation of young people, trained in the sporting spirit and social life.
In its corner of green paradise and precisely in its guesthouse there is also a large swimming pool, a football field and a beach volleyball court: sporting activities and relaxation for all tastes, therefore. Those who want to stay for some time on holiday can also occupy the spacious rooms, immersed in the unique naturalistic context of the golf club with a view of the emerald green of the courses, crowned by the silvery reflections of the olive trees, with their tenacious and twisted wood, always ready to resist in any weather.
A gym fully equipped with cutting-edge exercise equipment, with the possibility of using a Turkish bath complete the relaxation-health combination. (Those who want to try their hand at a rock climbing gym can reach Finale Ligure in a short time). Those responsible did well Garlenda Golf Club to also include the cultural offer, planning meetings with book authors. Let’s not forget that Liguria is a land that has always fascinated artists and poets, as well as a perfect destination for relaxation, for sea life, for practicing multiple sports and for savoring the exclusive pleasures of its table.
And so it entered fully into the cultural life of our country. I cite for example, Albisola, called , because it is the cradle of artistic ceramics which hosted the greatest artists of the 20th century as disciples. And I can’t forget Spotorno where a named stayed Camillo Sbarbaro which received a certain Eugenio Montale, on a visit, among the first to recognize in him an exceptional poetic talent. From their meetings nihilism was translated into verse. (The municipality of Spotorno would do well to bring back the season of <Spotorno Poetry>, precisely in their honor.
Among other things, illo tempore, at theBlue Algae I listened to a lecture by Carlo Booriginally from Sestri Levante, one of the greatest literary critics of the 20th century who had as professor of Greek at the Arecco institute in Genoa, precisely Camillo Sbarbaro and author among others of “Literature as life” where the theoretical-methodical foundations of Hermeticism are stated. And how can we forget our brothers Angelo and Mario Novarounited by the love of literature, heirs of the historic Sasso oil company, which on the sheet entitled: <The Ligurian Riviera> attached to the cans, they published the poems that Giuseppe Ungarettihe sent them, from the front.
Liguria has always been a hospitable and welcoming land. The specimens of have noticed it Homo Erectusand theHomo Sapiens of the Upper Paleolithic age, housed in the cave of the Balzi Rossi. The name is the Italianization of two terms coming from the Ventimiglia dialect (Sassi Rossi). For those who love history and prehistory can spend some fruitful time in the Archaeological Museum of Finalelocated in the monumental complex of Santa Caterina, in the historic center of Finalborgo.
After all these excursions you must return to Garlenda to appreciate its history. It is a different town than the others, behind the Albenga plain. There is no real historic center, except for the group of houses around the parish church, but the settlement is divided into small groups on the hills of the valley, which at this point begins to open up like a fan. Once the dominions and the wars of a past history have ended, the charm of Garlenda echoes above all in its landscape, made up of rolling hills, rich in lush vegetation, where scattered houses seem set like jewels in an intense green and the eyes rest while admiring this fairytale landscape and the soul is calmed.
The parish church of the Nativity, from the 17th century, is an interesting 17th-century building with an octagonal dome and a baroque bell tower. Inside, rich in inlaid marble, there is a seventeenth-century canvas attributed to Guercino. The castle Costa del Carretto in Pragliano, also known as <of the Sundial> today it appears in the seventeenth-century renovation, modified by subsequent interventions; The ruins of another castle, in the Castelli area, date back to the Middle Ages. Through old paths you can admire the natural richness of this place up close and reach very suggestive ancient villages, or travel along the Lerrone torrent to spot the rare turtle Emys orbicularis ingauna, considered an extinct species until recently.
You can also take peaceful walks up to the centuries-old oak tree, declared a national monument, near the small church of San Rocco. The Costa del Carretto Castle it is the center of culture par excellence. In fact, it hosts numerous cultural events, art exhibitions, conferences, concerts, poetry reviews, book presentations and theatrical performances. Furthermore, you shouldn’t miss the gathering of Fiat 500 and derivatives which has been repeated for forty years now, enriching itself every year with exciting new features.
And last but not least a nod to another pearl, The Sundial. Highly luxurious resort, with high-level hospitality for a delightful country residence surrounded by the scent of myrtle and broom: 29 rooms, 4 suites, bistro, swimming pool, elegant restaurant Rosemary
For lovers of history and archeology let’s not forget that since December 2022 it has been present in Liguria, ‘Old Salt Roads Association’ which brings together over 30 Ligurian and Piedmontese municipalities and deals with recovering and enhancing the ancient roads used for the salt trade.
Gianfranco Barcella
