Posts Tagged ‘genova’

Not far from Genoa is the village of Murta, a sleepy little place which has come to be known as the “land of the pumpkins” owing to the residents’ ability not only to grow perfectly formed pumpkins, but also to know what makes a good pumpkin. To celebrate all things pumpkin, Murta holds an annual pumpkin festival.

This year’s the event is held over two weekends – that of the 13th and 14th of November, and the following weekend, the 20th and 21st November.

The Murta pumpkin festival forms part of the village’s homage to its patron – Saint Martino. During the pumpkin festival the green surroundings of Murta are complimented by the orange hues of all manner of pumpkins. Prizes are awarded to those who bring the best pumpkin and there are also displays of flowers on show.

Lots of pumpkin based cuisine is also on offer and visitors will be able to try all manner of pumpkin based recipes, such as sweet pumpkin based starters. As visitors will no doubt note, a surprising number of dishes can be cooked up using the humble pumpkin as a basis.

Now in its 24th year, the Murta pumpkin festival is a novel event which is well worth seeing, if for no other reason than to see pumpkins in a whole new light. Did you know that it was Christopher Columbus who first introduced the pumpkin to Italy? No? Well, if this pumpkin fact fascinates you, spend a day in Murta and learn all about pumpkins. The Murta pumpkin fair will make a fun day out for young and old alike.

Just down the road is Genoa too, a city full of character with its port-side alleyways (don’t go there after dark!), huge aquarium, plus plenty of shops and places to eat.

Why not do a spot of Christmas shopping on Saturday and head off to Murta on Sunday?

The hilly countryside around Genoa is green and peaceful, making this area of Italy ideal for a quiet weekend getaway. Genoa also has its own airport and direct flights are available from London in the UK. Flights from Munich also land in Genoa too. Hiring a car is a good idea, as without one, Murta is not easy to reach.

For accommodation, take a look at Caffelletto’s selection of places to stay in the Genoa area.

From 18 to 20 june 2010 in Cogorno near Genova it will take place the typical testaieu village-feast.
The cogornese U.S.D. together with the ACADEMY of CIAPPA and TESTAIEU of Cogorno proposes the Testaieu village-feast to coincide with the celebrations of St. John the Baptist.
The testaieu village-feast of Cogorno combines delicious ligurian food  with good music.
You will find the typical testaieu with ligurian pesto cooked in ardent testetti (ancient pots), asado, grandma’s apple fritters and many other goodies. In addition to the renowned dish, ancient recipes for cooking and enriched by herbs of the territory there will accompany you on the path of tradition where the conviviality of people waiting for you, to spend unforgettable evenings.
The testaieu are a typical dish of ligurian regional cuisine, popular mainly in the East of the province of Genova.
The average preparation foresees a dough of flour and water fluid in equal parts by adding salt, which must be
paid in earthenware testetti previously makeredhot on fire. At the end of a short cooking inside testetti stacked away from heat, the testaieu are usually served with various toppings, including pesto or according to poorer inland ligure cuisine tradition, simply with oil and cheese or oil and garlic.
This poverty-stricken food consumed by the local population was with the little that the land could give and,
according to tradition that wants the Genoese thrifty, was also recovered heat of testetti who once used
for the preparation of the meals were tied in a cloth and placed under the blankets to donate a little warm during
the cold winter nights. In the sign of the local tradition, you can remember people with their aggregation,volunteer and charity. Big celebrations to commemorate the values and to try to convey to youngs a path of social rewarding life.
Cogorno is inserted in the valley of entella and is historically tied both to Pellegrino, the valley of slate, both to the mountain communities val Graveglia, on the floor where the beautiful stream sung by Dante in the Divine Comedy adims (Purgatory, XIX, v. 100-102). Behind the beautiful highlands heat by the sun climbs up to the top of Saint James mount, wrinkled typically ligurian bands supported by walls built patiently with flakes of stone, where for centuries are cultivated olive trees. The hilly trails and roads to reach valuable religious buildings unveil in the eyes of visitors splendid panoramic views. It’s hard not to be enchanted by this green silver frame which encloses and enhances the intense blue of Tigullio sea, the yellow sun waterfalls of broom and the fiery red sunset.
If even you wish spending a week-end plunged into a luxuriant nature in the name of tradition I can recommend you some typical bed-and-breakfasts nearby.

Dal 18 al 20 giugno 2010 a Cogorno vicino a Genova si terrà la tipica sagra dei testaieu.
La U.S.D.Cogornese unitamente all’ACCADEMIA della CIAPPA e dei TESTAIEU di Cogorno propongono la Sagra dei Testaieu in concomitanza con i festeggiamenti di San Giovanni Battista.
La sagra dei testaieu di Cogorno unisce l’ottimo cibo ligure con la buona musica.
Troverete i tipici testaieu col pesto ligure cotti nei testetti ardenti, asado, fritelle della nonna e tante altre golosità.
Oltre al rinomato piatto, antiche ricette cucinate ed impreziosite da erbe aromatiche del territorio vi accompagneranno sul sentiero delle tradizioni dove la convivialità della gente vi aspetta, per passare delle serate indimenticabili.
I testaieu sono un piatto tipico della cucina regionale ligure, molto diffuso principalmente nel levante della provincia di Genova.La preparazione prevede un impasto mediamente fluido di acqua e farina in parti uguali con l’aggiunta di sale,
che va versato in testetti di terracotta precedentemente arroventati su fuoco a legna.
Al termine di una breve cottura dentro i testetti impilati lontano dal fuoco, i testaieu vengono usualmente serviti
conditi con svariati condimenti, fra cui il pesto, oppure secondo la tradizione più povera della cucina dell’entroterra
ligure, semplicemente con olio e formaggio oppure olio e aglio.
Si tratta dunque di un cibo poverissimo che veniva consumato dalla popolazione
locale con quel poco che la terra poteva dare e, secondo la tradizione che vuole
i genovesi parsimoniosi, veniva recuperato anche il calore dei testetti che una volta usati per la preparazione delle vivande venivano fasciati in un panno e sistemati sotto le coperte per regalare un po’ di tepore durante le rigide notti invernali.
Nel segno della  tradizione locale, si ricorda un popolo con la sua aggregazione,volontariato e beneficenza.
Grandi festeggiamenti per ricordare dei valori e per cercare di trasmettere ai giovani un percorso di vita sociale gratificante.
Cogorno è storicamente legato sia alla Val Fontanabuona, la valle dell’ ardesia, sia alla Comunità Montana e alla Val Graveglia sul piano dove s’adima la fiumana bella cantata da Dante nella Divina Commedia, ( Purgatorio, XIX, v.100-102 ).
Alle sue spalle , le bellissime alture scaldate dal sole salgono fino alla cima del monte San Giacomo, solcate dalle fasce tipicamente liguri rette da muri costruiti pazientemente con scaglie di pietra, dove da secoli viene coltivato l’ulivo. I sentieri e le strade collinari consentono di raggiungere pregevoli edifici religiosi e svelano agli occhi dei visitatori splendidi scorci panoramici. E’ difficile non rimanere incantati da questa cornice verde argentata che racchiude ed esalta il blu intenso del mare del tigullio, il giallo solare delle cascate di ginestra ed il rossofuoco di tramonti.
Se anche tu desideri trascorrere un week end immerso in una lussureggiante natura all’insegna della tradizione ti posso
consigliare alcuni tipici bed-and-breakfasts vicini.