Fall in Love with Liguria
From wild swimming, to skiing, hikes in the forests and discovering magical waterfalls. Indulge in the local cuisine, bathe in the crystal clear waters of the Italian Riviera, follow the trails of paeolithic man or simply relax and observe Italy at it’s best- you can do it all
here in Liguria.
Mountain Biking: For world class trails head to Finale Ligure where you can ride for 6km down hill then end up on the beach for a beer!
Road Biking: The long, winding hills throughout Liguria offer brilliant opportunities for rides of any length. There is a route which goes directly through Nasino.
E-biking: With it’s growing popularity, e-biking is a great option for you during your stay.
Note on Equipment Storage at La Casa: There will be a secure area for you to store your bikes, paddle boards, skis etc during your stay.
Beaches: Within easy reach of La Casa are beaches to suit everyone- the sun bather who prefers fine, flat sand to the child who is happy throwing stones in the sea all day long! If there is a little wind a small swell presents waves for jumping, body boarding or even surfing. The beaches along the town fronts have plenty of bars and restaurants and for a small fee you can hire a lounger. In between the towns find areas of the coast line that are often deserted so you can enjoy them all to yourself!
Swim: In the calm, clear waters along the coast, a fresh mountain river or one of the many natural granite lakes in the mountain streams. Try the Laghetti of Pigna, Badalucco, or Rochetta Nervina. (Or…Plunge into the secret pool known locally as the ‘Lago di Nasino’ , just 5 minutes up the road from La Casa… shhhh!)
Climbing: There is awesome climbing throughout the hilly region of Liguria including very close to the house at Alto where there is also an indoor centre for wet days. There is a castle in Alto where you can picnic and look out at the awesome, breathtaking views.
Trail Running: You are spoilt for choice of routes through the woodlands if you love the endeavour and often the solitude of trail running.
Rock Pooling: Head to the beautiful beaches past Latte towards the frontier at Balzi Rossi where you’ll find tiny rock coves with aquamarine water resembling the Caribbean, you may even find some fossils! As a family, we love being able to take the boys to enjoy peace, tranquility and become completely immersed in the activity.
Flora and Fauna: The Ligurian coastline is termed the ‘Riviera die Fiori’ and it’s flowers are famous all around the world. There is a Flower festival in Sanremo in January with carts decorated with flowers which pass through the streets. In May, known as the month of flowers, visit the famous and exotic Hanbury Gardens to marvel at the vibrant colours and breathe in the heavenly fragrances.
Home made ice cream ‘gelato’: Italian gelaterias are well known for offering a hundred different flavours, enjoy sampling them to find your favourite!
Whale & Dolphin Watching: Take a boat trip from the port of Alassio or other beaches on the riviera. Visit the Aquarium of which Genoa hosts the most extensive range of aquatic biodiversity in Europe, take a boat trip to sail on the sea mammals’ routes in the Pelagos Sanctuary and have a marvelous full immersion into the dolphins’ world and maybe you’ll be lucky enough to also sight a whale!
Down Hill Skiing: The best skiing is at Riserva Bianca Limone Piemonte, with some of the only south facing slopes in Italy. Located between Piedmont and Liguria. This resort also boasts fantastic mountain biking in the warmer months.
There are also smaller resorts within an hour of La Case delle Vita, great for a day trip from the house. Head to Prato Nevoso S.P.A., Garéssio 2000 or Monesi di Triora.Cross Country Skiing: If, like me you’re a bit of a ‘phys fiend’ you’ll love this style of skiing! The cross country routes through the beautiful pine woods at Colle Lanagan (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes away) offer you complete peace and solitude above the Reservoir which is solid ice in winter. There are even views to the sea despite being about 20 km up!
Waterfall: Relish following this little known, magical mountain walk through the woods that takes you to Liguria's longest waterfall above Imperia the Arroscia Waterfalls, Mendatica (Imperia).
Caves: There is an underground walk through the Caves of Toirano amonst the stallactites and stalagmites, where you can still see traces of the footprints of paeolithic man. Historically wild mountain bears, walked for miles by the streams to find the caves to hibernate for the winter.
Shopping: I’m no shopper, however sometimes it’s pleasurable to browse and recommend places to others. Just 20 minutes from La Casa is the coastal town of Alassio with pure golden beaches, lined with pretty restaurants and bars. The medieval centre of Alassio is intriguing.
Pesto: ‘Pasta al pesto’ the Ligurian way is a far reach from the pasta and pesto I feed my kids for a quick-fix tea! The local way to serve pasta al pesto is with grean beans and potatoes and the pesto genovese is an exquisite mix of fresh basil, pine nuts, garlic and the finest Ligurian olive oil- Taggiasco, delicious!
Art: Close to the French border lies the ‘Artist’ village of Apricale. Try a local speciality ‘Capanna dei Baci’- hot Zabaglione with dougnuts. In Genova, visit the museums of Via Garibaldi, Europe's longest remaining Renaissance street, it is inscribed in the list of Unesco world heritage sites.
Travel to Bussana Vecchia, a village which was left in ruins and then reconstructed in the 1960's by a commune of artists, it is now all artist galleries, bars and small restaurants. In summer there are often improvised performances on the streets, or enjoy a concert under the stars in the ruined church on top of the hill.Cinque Terre: The quintessential ‘Five Lands’- Monterosso al Mare, Vernazza, Corniglia, Manarola and Riomaggiore, nestling into the Riviera are a must see. Voyage by boat either from Genova or any of the 5 villages to view from the sea or utilise the trains to explore each town individually. An easy excursion from La Casa.
Summer Fireworks: Dolceacqua is one of Liguria's most famous medieval villages and hosts a fireworks festival in August which is really spectacular. The fireworks fly over the river and ignite over the splendid castle Doria which is floodlit by the display in different colours as is the river and the famous bridge.
