FINALE LIGURE, a 360° experience

Set in the heart of the Riviera delle Palme, between Savona and Alassio, Finale Ligure is known as the capital of outdoor tourism: moreover, the place – made up of a galaxy of coastal ad hill centres – has lots to offer also in terms of natural settings, culture, sports and enogastronomy.

Finalborgo

Finale Ligure is fully equipped with highway exit, railway station and tourist information centre. It features an array of accommodation facilities which provide 365-day a year hospitality to targets such as families, trekkers, bikers and climbers. Beaches and limestone cliffs, nature and woods, fortresses and paths, events and free-climbing, flavours and horse tourism, diving and sea-watching: that is Finale Ligure.
The toponym probably derives from Ad fines, i.e. at the borders between the Sabatii and the Ingauni, two Ligurian communities who were defeated by the Romans.

The magic of Finalborgo and its entroterra

Finalborgo (one of the “Borghi più belli d’Italia”- Italy’s most beautiful minor centres) stands a 15-minute stroll form the coast, still protected by the embrace of its historic walls. The ancient capital of the Marchesi del Carretto (fierce opponents of the powerful Republic of Genoa) treasures the harmony of noble dwellings, towers, convents, bell-towers and the astounding beauty of the complex of Santa Caterina, a magic of cloisters.
From Finalborgo guests turn their back to the sea and drive past the pleasant village of Gorra towards the beech forest of the Melogno pass in a scenery of Mediterranean maquis and dry stone walls. The strada statale faces the charm of the fortresses of Perti and Castel Gavone, the diamond-shaped ashlars of the Torre dei Diamanti and the eccentric church of the Cinque Campanili (belltowers).

Finale Marina and Finalpia

Back to the coast, the historical centre of Finale Marina is an enchanting maze of carruggi coiling around the elegant Via Garibaldi. This pleasant pedestrian zone sides the seaside light of Lungomare Italia and its wide beaches. Castelfranco, a 14th century castle built by the Genoese, is perched on a rock to the east. Past the Sciusa stream, Finalpia is nestled around its Benedictine apiary. The road to the hamlet of Calvisio follows the track of the Via Julia Augusta, built by Emperor Adrian (76-138) to avoid the threats of the coastal trail.

Enchanting Varigotti

From Finalpia the Aurelia leads to the beautiful fishermen village of Varigotti. Its tiny “pieds dans l’eau” pastel houses make it the ideal photographic set. The emerald green of the Baia dei Saraceni (i.e. Saracen bay) stands beyond Punta Crena.   

Food and wine treats

Enogastronomy focuses on local produce (mainly EVO and wine) and the gifts of the sea. Refined wines include Rossese, Vermentino and Pigato DOC “Riviera Ligure di Ponente” and, last not least, Lumassina (.k.a. Mataossu), an indigenous white that matches both fish and vegetables. Citrus fruits range from lemons to oranges and chinotti. Menus promote outstanding Ligurian street food (focaccia, farinata, panissa…), anchovies (once called “the bread of the sea) in a hundred preparations, salumi, snails, stuffed aubergines (feasted in Gorra during a 50-year old fair), and the Autumn treat of precious porcini mushrooms from the Melogno. Excellence is the trait of patisserie, too: almond chifferi, gobeletti, shortcrust pastry finarin and much more. 

Luisa Puppo

This is the fascinating world of tastes and crafts that LiguriabyLuisa discloses to foreign markets and buyers (tour operators, travel agencies, organizations, associations, food&wine dealers and import/export professionals....).

My English abstract of the article by Umberto Curti as published on Liguria Food 

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