Places to visitSanta Margherita
Camogli
Cinque Terre - Monterosso Al mare
Genoa - Suq A Genoa
Genoa - San Giovanni Battista
Recco
Genoa Boat Show
Throughout Italy there are many Festivals during the year, these are wonderful ways to experience the local culture and enjoy the spectacle. Here is a selection from now until the Autumn. We will be coming up with some package ideas around some of these so if you’re interested check in with our website…
SANTA MARGHERITA - FEBRUARY/MARCH
Festa di Primavera
This is to welcome the Spring. Held on moveable dates in February and this year later because of the Easter dates. Fritters are prepared on the beach and served round huge bonfires
Sagre Del Pesce
Annual four day festival with the final and most significant day on the second Sunday in May at Camogli near Genoa. The celebrations, which honour San Fortunato, the patron saint of fishermen include a procession, a blessing of the fishing boats, street music and markets. On the final day, the townspeople fry fresh fish in an enormous pan – 5 meters wide and distribute it to everyone. The day ends with a bonfire.
The story: the fame of the “Sagra del Pesce” (Fish Feast) of Camogli coincides with that of its famous gigantic pan. It all began in the beginning of 1952 when about 20 fishermen wanted to attract the attention of tourists by donating fried fish during the feast of St. Fortunato, the patron of fishermen. This event was a great success and no one had expected such an outcome therefore the organizers of the feast had to fry fish all day. The following year the idea was once again proposed and Lorenzo Viacava a famous fisherman known as “O Napoli”, decided to build a gigantic pan for the occasion, which became the attraction of an event that had already become a real and true feast.
Thanks to the New York Hearld Tribune, King Baldovino of Belgium, and a 1955 Eurovision telecast, the fame of the event became of international importance.†
CINQUE TERRE - MONTEROSSO AL MARE
Sagra Dei Limoni (Lemon Festiival)
Held in May – on the 3rd Saturday before Ascension day. This is the best known fruit festival. Lemon groves are everywhere in the local landscape.
of the Cinque Terre in Liguria. Lemon groves are a distinctive feature of the local landscape and the festival takes place in May, on the third Saturday before Ascension Day.
The whole village is decorated with lemons and leaves so the air is full with the smell. Big tables are full of local products all made from the local lemons. Limoncino licquer, cakes, jams etc. There is a prize for the largest lemon!
In June, at the Porto Antico. A 10-day multicultural festival. Markets and food and dancing. Workshops for children and shows.
June 24 is the start of the celebrations to honour Genoa’s patron saint., Saint John the Baptist. The night before, Genoa comes alive with games in the piazzas and fireworks. On the 24th, there is a procession from the Cathedral to the Porto Antico, where the Cardinal blesses the sea with relics of the saint.
CINQUE TERRE – VESSALICO
GARLIC FAIR (FIERO DELL’AGLIO)
JULY 2
www.cinqueterre.it
T: +39 0183 660 140
This is as you would expect, a celebration of garlic! There is garlic fair, performances through the day of dance/music + traditionally created beautiful interwoven bundles of garlic (reste)
Fire Festival – This is held in September over 2 days and is a fireworks competition involving 7 local towns ending with a processiona throughout the city. It is to celebrate Our Lady of Intercession, the patron saint of Recco. Speciality Recco cuisine (like the famous focaccia!) Is served throughout
http://www.sagradelfuoco.it/
CINQUE TERRE MONTEROSSO AL MARE
ANCHOVIES FEAST
September – the second Tuesday.
You can get a taste in the main square of the local salted anchovies and drink the delicious local white wine. There is a local band who play in the evening and you can dance until midnight
GENOA – BOAT SHOW
OCTOBER
The most important event for the city of Genoa and the largest of its kind in Europe. Over 400 boats are displayed in the water including 50 superyachts!!! Everything connected to the nautical world is on display here.