Sassello, a borgo of biodiversity

When sustainability is at stake, natural and cultural biodiversity acts as the cornerstone of development. How the rural borgo of Sassello (Liguria) is investing in the protection and promotion of its genius loci.

  

Autumn in Sassello

Sassello, what's in a borgo?

Sassello stands in the Ligurian countryside along the route between Savona and Acqui Terme, 25 kilometres from the sea in a stunning natural setting – 100 square kilometres of biodiversity, forests and prairies in the heart of the Beigua Unesco Geopark. 

Yesterday and today, Sassello represents the iconic holiday resort, appreciated for its beautiful old centre, natural heritage, countless (please note: numberless) excellent food traditions. Gourmet highlights also include stone-ground flours (wheat, spelt and rye, grown locally), crafts beers of international renown and - most and foremost - porcini mushrooms and amaretti, a delightful concoction of almonds, sugar, egg white and apricot kernels. These soft, sweet&bitter biscuits are on sale everywhere throughout the borgo.

The climate here is very different from Genoa and the Riviera: from spring to autumn, this is the perfect choice to escape from the madding crowd and enjoy the green of woods, meadows and fields. Winter can sometimes be very snowy, perfect for snowshoeing, a lit fireplace and an atmosphere of bygone days. Tourism and commercial operators always provide a courteous and professional welcome.

It comes as no surprise that the village was also the first in Italy to be awarded Touring Club Italiano's Bandiera Arancione (i.e., orange flag) for its attention to environmental quality. A theme that leads us to the second part of this feature, which will focus on the contradictions of this troubled season.

Sustainability at stake: the “back to the origins” effect

Every day, this complex age woefully threatens the very foundations of sustainability, terroir, local products, indigenous produce and well-being. Belatedly, we are pressing the alarm button about climate change - in 2050, how many Ligurian beaches will survive the melting of glaciers? Is it reassuring to see the mimosa blooming in the mountains in January? At the same time, disparity and alienation are challenging our social and economic existence.

As tourism marketing expert Umberto Curti wrote back in his 2005 essay (Alte Stagioni. Modelli per il marketing turistico, Erga edizioni): "The contradictions linked to the sudden shift from agro-pastoral to industrial culture, and the recent tertiarization of a large part of society, have produced vast gaps that have triggered a series of "back to the origins" trends, as well as a nostalgia for another dimension, perceived as less standardized and more attuned to human life. From Horace to Rousseau, the idea of man as the child of nature and not its antagonist. Individuality and family, tranquillity, simplicity and clarity of relationships, respect for nature and work, warm handshakes and the smell of home [...]. A set of values opposing frenzy of pace, superfluities, alienating technology, coldness and competition, massification and pollution. These are compelling issues that call administrators, citizens, businesses, and tourism managers into question".

Sundial in the historical centre of Sassello

Protection and promotion, the perfect match

Each territory is a story: its agricultural, craft, folkloric and culinary expressions facets of natural and cultural biodiversity, pages that help us to understand its genius loci and to carry out protection and promotion. Wise preservation of resources is - in fact - ipso facto a form of communication, attracting attention and consensus. Villages like Sassello convey an important message: economic development can be equivalent to progress (as we know, the two terms are not synonymous) and imply a future that makes good use of memory and valuable experiential tourism respectful of places and communities.

Dear Reader, stay tuned for news on upcoming projects.
Time to roll up our sleeves and get down to work!

My English adaptation of Umberto Curti's article as published on Ligucibario

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