One holiday, many colours. RIVIERA LIGURE DELLE PALME RIVIERA Welcome to the Riviera delle Palme One holiday, many colours. From Varazze to Andora: all the emotions of a magic holiday. 2 The Riviera delle Palme. Are you looking for a colourful holiday, rich in emotions and not far from your home? No need for long journeys: driving on the motorway, from either Milan or Turin, in just two-hour you reach 1500 square kilometres of coasts, valleys and mountains where both the dull winter fogs and the colourless sultry summer are indeed something unknown. Here, in summer as well as in winter, you can only experience the changing blue of the sea and the deep green of olive trees and pines. A dip into the light blue water, a walk on the sand and then just beyond the beach the old village with its narrows alleys, the typical “caruggi”, unmistakable for their extreme narrowness and for their fragrance and scent: baked bread, fresh fish fried in the pan with a little bit of olive oil, thyme, oregano and basil, uniquely aromatized by the sea scent. Why travel further then? It is perhaps here, in the Riviera delle Palme, that you can find the ideal set for your holiday. The sea blue with its many shades is melting into the changing green of the flowering lawns and with the light blue of the sky. 3 The Climate and the Holiday Springtime for ever. A privileged climate, all the year round. Winter? A non-existing word: there is no winter in the Riviera delle Palme. Fog and frost are unknown: the sea mitigates temperature all the year round, thus avoiding summer sultriness and winter iciness. The north winds and the sea breezes preserve the atmosphere from pollution in all seasons. The vegetation illuminates winter days: blooming yellow mimosas in January, blossoming white almond trees and cherry trees in February. In springtime the air is scented by the wild broom, beloved by poets, whereas the palm trees are swaying in the sea breeze. In autumn the woods on the hills darken red and brown, the skylight softens and the seawater warmness invites to a dip, to enjoy further the embrace of a never ending summer. In the Riviera delle Palme the sun is shining for twelve months, in an eternal springtime offering a holiday site for all seasons. 4 Fog and ice are unknown here: the sea mitigates temperatures all the year round, thus avoiding summer sultriness and winter iciness. 5 The Sea and the Coast A sea of pleasure. A coast of more than one hundred kilometers, really to enjoy Each year many resorts in the Riviera delle Palme are awarded the “blue flag”. 6 the sea. A Riviera unrolling for more than one hundred kilometers, with the sea striving its best to satisfy its lovers coming from all over Europe. Those who enjoy lying lazily under the sunshades are offered long beaches of soft and fine sand; bending sea-front promenades, shaded by the palms trees, are ready to welcome those who prefer watching the sea walking in its fresh breeze; the pure breath of nature can be enjoyed by the high cliffs smashed by the winter waves, and romantic moments on the seaside are offered in lonely and pebbly inlets. In the tourist harbors the sweet rolling of the white yachts is lulling all sea-dogs in search of salted and sunny horizons. The sight off the coast is not to be missed: a wonderful sight of sperm whales, dolphins and rorqual whales. Whale- watching on board of equipped boats is available in that area of the Ligurian Sea recently set up as Cetaceans Sanctuary. The sea is a caring friend and the Riviera delle Palme loves its sea: for this reason each year many of its resorts are awarded the coveted “blue flag”, officially assigned by the European Community to those resorts where quality of the natural environment, beaches and harbors is carefully sought after and where great attention is paid to the compliance with facilities and services quality standards required by guests. 7 The Sea and the Beaches A fine, warm and golden In the Riviera delle Palme lying on the sea-side is an Who could forget the beaches of the Riviera delle Palme after having experienced them? How could one forget the long kilometers of very fine golden sand, that “cocktail” of tiny candid quartz and soft limestone granules? A soft carpet to be treaded silently in the lonely and clear daylight of the winter sun, warmed up by the summer heat, an invitation to lie down under multi-colored rows of sunshades and deck-chairs. And then the bathing establishments, with their colored wooden cabins, offering entertainment, relax and opportunity for old friendship to be renewed and new relations to be established. In the luminous air, echoing the bathers voices, the beaches are sloping down into the sea. The water is not very deep, it is quiet, light blue and warm, also in autumn; its golden color shining into the sunlight is fading into light blue, green and then into the dark of the innermost depths. Walking slowly into the water the skin warmed up by the sun is restored by the sweet embrace of the sea. 8 sand. an unforgettable experience. The sand, a “cocktail” of tiny candid quartz and soft limestone granules making up a unique soft carpet. 9 Nature and the Isles Surrounded by cliffs and blue Gallinara and Bergeggi, two wild islets, two protected natural To leave behind the crazy crowd of the cheerful and colored beaches is very easy; the Riviera delle Palme can also satisfy lovers of a direct contact with the wildest side of the sea. From one beach to another there is a succession of small rocky promontories covered by cluster pines and holm oaks, whereas the cliffs rising from the waves hide small caves slowly penetrated by the sea and irradiated by the light that creates on the limestone the iridescences of a rainbow; and there, where the cliffs appear to be inaccessible, lonely inlets unveil. They can be reached only on boat or on foot and where, even in summer romantic, intimacy can be absolute; not very far from the coast the two islets of Bergeggi and Gallinara, two protected natural areas, reign of the seagulls, can be easily reached. At dawn these two unspoilt oasis are offering a joyful sight of dark blues rising from the sea water, whereas at sunset the two lonely islets experience all the nuances of yellow and red. 10 depths. areas. There, where the cliffs appear to be inaccessible, lonely inlets unveil which can be reached only on boat or on foot. 11 Local Handicraft The precious quality of A journey into the wonders of handicraft; from Albisola Handicraft in the Riviera delle Palme stems from centuries of tradition and skill of glass-workers and potters who are now exporting their works all over the world. All objects produced by the artisan glassworks in Altare and by the potters ovens in the two districts of Albisola are precious works of art, souvenirs of an outstanding holiday, present to be offered to beloved people. In Altare there are a number of artisan workshop dedicated to crystal- and glass blowing, decorating and engraving, all preserving this peculiar form of artistic expression; here the Glass Museum shows the history and technique of this noble and ancient art. In the two districts of Albisola the secrets of the master “potters” can be learned either by visiting one of the thirty works, very often family-run, in which renowned artists realize their works or by choosing one of the three pottery museums. The Artists Promenade is a gift made by the most important and famous potters of the XXth century to the town of Albissola Marina and to its guests. Precious work of art, valuable souvenir of an outstanding holiday. 2 handicraft. pottery to Altare glassware. 13 Typical Products A “flourishing” agriculture. In the plains and on the terraced walls genuine and tasty products are 14 grown. And many flowers as well. The hard work done by peasants over the past centuries has contributed to a great heritage made of kilometers of terraced walls and modern greenhouse systems enabling the rational utilization of the fertile coastal plains. The genuineness of agricultural products in the Riviera delle Palme equals their freshness and excellence: flowers, either in pot or cut, exported to all European countries, Albenga’s artichokes, early produces and basil, the main ingredient of the local sauce “pesto”. Woodland offers chestnuts, mushrooms and, in the Bormida Valley, also delicious truffles; bees produce excellent honey. Last, but not least, wine and oil: white wines such as the Pigato or the Vermentino; red wines such as the Rossese under the certified area of production (DOC) “Riviera Ligure di Ponente” and the typical geographical designation (IGT) “Colline Savonesi”, whereas the extra virgin olive oil, registered under the origin designation (DOP) "Riviera del Ponente Savonese" is the ideal “raw” dressing to enrich all the Mediterranean recipes with taste and nourishing factors too. The “Wine and Oil Road ” goes across the whole territory of the Riviera delle Palme and is reaching almost all sites where these two gifts are produced and sold. The genuineness of agricultural products in the Riviera delle Palme equals their freshness and excellence. 15 Gastronomy Welcome to our table. All the flavours and scents of the Mediterranean food are here 16 for tasting and represent a joy to the eyes. Fish and agricultural produce are jointly contributing to the creation of the tasty dishes of the Riviera delle Palme.