A day-trip to Badalucco

The charming borgo of Badalucco nestles in the heart of the Argentina valley in the province of Imperia. Its earliest name – Baaluco – is a toponym of uncertain derivation that nonetheless hints to remote origins: local caves were in fact inhabited even during the Copper Age, and the whole place tells the tale of history, traditions and strong territorial identity.

 

Art, nature and gastronomy are the perfect ingredients of a day-trip to Badalucco.

 

Your exploration of the pleasant historical centres starts through one of five Medieval doors: porta di San Rocco, porta del Poggetto, porta di Santa Lucia, porta del Beo and porta della Castella. The setting is unique, a sacre and profane mix of antiquity and modernity: churches (treasuring paintings and sculptures), Medieval palaces, stone bridges, old botteghe harmoniously alternate with modern murales and big-sized ceramics works, the evidence of collaboration with Albissola artists. 

 

Thus, the brown grey of the village’s ancient walls is splashed with the vibrant colours of contemporary art. Plates, reliefs and ceramics tiles evocately echo the history and traditions of Badalucco: from Sandro Marchetti’s “Le streghe” (i.e.the witches) to “La raccolta delle olive” i.e. the olive harvest) by Massimiliano Lazzari (Badalucco is celebrated for taggiasca EVO and oil mills, e.g. the frantoio Roi). Scattered throughout the borgo, Agenore Fabbri, Sandro Cerchi, Aurelio Caminati, Rocco Borella, Michelangelo Tallone. 

 

Ancient botteghe are the realm of skilful craftsmen – carving olive tree and heather trunks, weaving chestnut wood baskets, creating jewels in gold, silver, gems. Last but not least, gastronomy displays EVO, rundin white beans (tender and tasty) and stockfish which travelled a long way from Norwegian Lofoten islands to Porto Maurizio and then Badalucco and the Valle Argentina. Local lore narrates of how stockfish supplies granted survival during a legendary Saracen siege. The event is celebrated on the third Sunday in September on occasion of the "Festival dello Stoccafisso alla badalucchese”, an invitation to taste “stocafissu a Baücogna” (i.e. stockfish Badalucco style). However, as you wait for your September treat you can enjoy a hearty portion of “stocco” in local restaurants and trattorie.

 

 

My English abstract of the article as published on LiguriaFood

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