Savouring Cervo: a love for music, literature and gastronomy

Perched on its promontory, Cervo dominates the Diano Gulf in the province of Imperia – an easy reach through both the autostrada and the SS1 Aurelia.

The borgo, a few hundred dwellers in a maze of carruggi inhabited by idling, happy cats, is one of the most charming villages in Liguria (a treasure trove of such gems). Palms, pastel-coloured tiny houses, sundials, benches, cobblestone paving, flower vases…

After the pillages of the Barbarian age, the Byzantine bastions partially managed to stop pirate raids.

Coral – red gold – was a popular local catch for a long time. The Baroque parish church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist and renowned for its concave façade, in fact known as the "chiesa dei Corallini".

Stroll around Cervo and enjoy the sight of beautiful 17th-18th cent. Noble palazzi: close to the centre stands the 13th century castle of the Clavesana household, for 40 years the seat of museums – do not miss the ethnographic “Franco Ferrero” collections celebrating the daily life of bygone days.

Tread on amidst small shops, piazzette, good restaurants, arches, ascents, descents, hung bedsheets…

Last but not least, pleasant biking/hiking itineraries, not to forget the bright views from the Parco del Ciapà.

Tomatoes, lemons, grapevines (mostly Pigato and Vermentino), capers, hop fields (the protagonist of craft beers) fill the foodie cornucopia together with the catch of the day, fresh pasta (try borage ravioli), rabbit with olives and pine nuts, vegetable savoury pies…Since 2011 the pestun du servu boasts De.Co. certification: a mortar sauce (similar to marò) made with fresh fava beans, garlic, mint, hard eggs yolks, breadcrumb soaked in white vinegar (then squeezed), coarse salt and top-quality local EVO.

Cervo mainly means music (similarly, Verezzi means theatre). Since 1964 it hosts the "International chamber music festival", created by Hungarian violinist Sándor Végh (a street in the village is named after him).

Cervo also celebrates literature. “Cervo ti Strega” (2021 - 8th edition) is linked to the famous award as well as to the friendship between Maria Bellonci and Orsola Nemi. It gathers – once more in the stunning piazza dei Corallini – famous novelists and literates.

My English abstract of Umberto Curti's article as published on Liguria Food

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