Siamo sempre più impegnati ma ciò non toglie che ci si possa ritagliare qualche ora per rigenerarsi nella natura. Escursioni alla portata di tutti, spesso uniscono la camminata alla partecipazione a qualche tradizione folcloristica locale
There is a moment of awe that washes over you when you step into a forest. Century-old trees tower above, sunlight twinkling through them. Birds tweet. Spiders weave their elaborate webs. The smell of pine needles fill the air. The act of spending time in the forest is what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, a term originating in the 1980s that means “bathing in the forest atmosphere,” says Qing Li, a researcher on this topic and a professor at Nippon Medical School in Tokyo. “This is not exercise or hiking or jogging,” he writes in his 2018 book Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness. “It is simply being in nature, connecting with it through our sense of sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch.” Not only is “forest bathing” a magical way to explore nature, decades of research has shown that it’s good for your health. It can boost your immune system, lower blood pressure and help with depression. It can also reduce the stress hormones cortisol and adrenaline and turn down the dial on your body’s fight-or-flight response. Li and Gary Evans, director of the Forest Bathing Institute in the U.K., talk to Life Kit about the science behind forest bathing and how you can reap these health benefits.Coming from Genoa, it’s the first village of the famous Cinque Terre.
Beech Forest
Wellness Escapes
Today we use cell phones and other screen-equipped devices a lot, which makes us desire immediate content and constant stimulation. This weakens social interactions and creativity. Additionally, a sedentary and urban lifestyle reduces contact with nature. Studies show that nature is important for health and well-being, improving concentration and emotional management, even in young people.
Beech Forest
aroma therapy
Seafront vineyards on private property for complete privacy
winter flowers along the stream
moss in pine forest
Slate quarries that transform the landscape in every season thanks to the thousands of varieties of flowers.
Immersive and Heartfelt Tour
My magic lies in giving you an authentic taste of life in my country. There’s a difference between enjoying a good glass of wine and experiencing the entire production process, from the energy of the harvest to the moment when that bottle of red is corked.
wine tasting
In a journey that goes beyond exploring places, we embrace a profound experience where each step connects us authentically with the land and its people. It’s about fully living each moment, indulging in local culture, culinary delights, and folklore. Walking becomes an art of savoring life’s nuances, embracing the journey itself rather than just reaching a destination. As we venture along the trail, we immerse ourselves, letting each step unveil new cultural, culinary, and outdoor experiences. Each moment becomes a cherished treasure, a memory to hold onto forever.
mushroom hunting
“focaccia” tasting
harvest at the Cinque Terre
If you have a day to dedicate to this experience, please send me an email and I will be more than happy to organize with you an immersive activity in the vineyards, including visits to the wineries, olive picking, preparation of typical Ligurian pasta, and much more. I am confident that these personalized proposals will pique your interest to participate.
Vi aspetto.
Caterina Cogorno
00393483840769
escursionilevanteligure@gmail.com
The Bay of Silence, Sestri Levante, is gorgeous spot where the first leg of the Hidden Italy ‘Italian Riviera’ walk, which starts in Genoa, finishes and where the second leg, which finishes in Portovenere, starts. It’s a pretty buzzy town, popular with Italian tourist.
The Legend of Sestri Levante is a tale that tells of the origins of the town of Sestri Levante, a coastal town in Liguria, Italy. According to legend, Sestri Levante was founded by two nymphs named Annunziata and Adelaide. These nymphs were daughters of the sea god Triton and fell in love with the same mortal man, a fisherman named Aleramo. Unable to decide which of them should be with Aleramo, the nymphs turned themselves into rocks to create two small islands just off the coast of Sestri Levante: the famous “Baia del Silenzio” (Bay of Silence) and “Baia delle Favole” (Bay of Fables). These two bays are separated by a narrow strip of land that connects them to the mainland.
The legend goes on to say that Aleramo was so devastated by the disappearance of Annunziata and Adelaide that he became a hermit and spent the rest of his days praying in a cave overlooking the sea. Over time, the area around the cave grew into the town of Sestri Levante.
This legend adds a touch of mystique and romance to the picturesque town of Sestri Levante, drawing visitors who are intrigued by its mythical origins.
La Leggenda di Sante sulla Penisola di Sestri Levante:
..C’era una volta un posto incantevole affacciato sul Mar Ligure, un angolo dove il mare era più azzurro e dove il sole si specchiava più a lungo. Qui le sirene, incantate da quel magnifico scenario offerto dall’Isola di SESTRI LEVANTE, elessero la loro dimora e si adagiarono sugli scogli che, come piccoli troni, emergevano dall’acqua. Dalla riva, TIGULLIO, il più giovane e bello dei Tritoni, vide un giorno SEGESTA, la più bella ed affascinante delle Sirene, con gli occhi più azzurri del mare e i capelli più lucenti del sole e se ne invaghì perdutamente. Una notte, mentre la luna rendeva d’argento gli scogli e tante, tante stelle palpitavano come il suo cuore, Tigullio tentò di rapire Segesta, ma Nettuno, Dio del Mare, non gradì che quel paradiso venisse privato della più armoniosa delle sue gemme e punì, pietrificandolo, quel braccio proteso a ghermire la sirena.
Nacque così un’istmo, un meraviglioso istmo, che congiunse l’isola al continente…
Si formarono così i due volti della città, le due arenose spiagge, i due piccoli e romantici golfi, che ebbero in dono da poeti di fama mondiale gli appellativi di “Baia del Silenzio” e “Baia delle Favole”.
… Ed ancor oggi è impossibile guardare a quel promontorio, a quegli scogli e a quel mare, senza credere che là in mezzo vi dimorino tuttora le Sirene.
E’ questo incanto che continua a tramandare al mondo la leggenda dell’antica “Segesta Tigulliorum”.
Riviera
The Riviera Ligure di Levante is rich in enchanting landscapes: The coastline is a constellation of splendid gulfs, renowned beaches, and beautiful towns: Camogli, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Zoagli Chiavari, Lavagna, Moneglia overlooking the Gulf of Tigullio.
Many of the images of Liguria that are famous in the world have been immortalized among the inlets of this coast and many writers and poets have sung their beauty.
In the Ligurian Riviera di Levante there are many small places to visit and where to take many beautiful photos.
Portofino
World-famous is its Piazzetta in front of the natural harbor, with restaurant and bar tables inviting for splendid relaxation in the sun. Here, one often encounters international jet-set personalities. I also enjoy crossing it to reach the pathways branching out west towards Camogli, east towards Santa Margherita, or uphill towards its summit. Along the way, one traverses a myriad of diverse natural environments, from classic Mediterranean vegetation to chestnut forests, from Mauritanian cane to spatulate saxifrage.
famosa in tutto il mondo la sua Piazzetta davanti al porticciolo naturale, con i tavoli dei ristoranti e bar che invitano a uno splendido relax al sole. Qui spesso si incontrano personaggi del jet-set internazionale, A me piace anche attraversarla per arrivare a camminare sui sentieri che si diramano a ovest verso Camogli, a est verso a Santa Margherita o in salita verso la sua vetta, attraversando per arrivarci una miriade di ambienti naturali diversi, dalla classica vegetazione mediterranea si passa infatti ai boschi di castagni, dall’ampelodesma mauritanicus alla sassifraga spatolata.
The village extends along a vertical axis where steep staircases are the only means of getting around within the town. The typical houses are towered, spanning two or more floors to make the best use of the available space, and one cannot help but notice the pastel colors (green, yellow, pink) of their facades. Descending from the boat that connects the various villages, you encounter the small harbor, and then, ascending a beautiful bench under a wide umbrella of pine branches, one cannot resist taking a souvenir photo of the surrounding panorama.
L’abitato è esteso lungo un asse verticale dove ripide scalette sono l’unico mezzo per muoversi all’interno del paese. Le case tipiche sono a torre su due o più piani per utilizzare al meglio lo spazio disponibile, e l’occhio non può non notare i colori pastello (verde, giallo, rosa) delle loro facciate. Scendendo dal battello che unisce i vari paesi, si incontra il porticciolo e poi salendo una bellissima panchina sotto un’ampio ombrello di fronde di pino non si può non scattare una foto ricordo del panorama circostante
Coming from Genoa, it’s the first village of the famous Cinque Terre.
Famous not only for being part of this National Park and for its beautiful beach and wine, but also for lemons and anchovies cooked in multiple variations. You can find everything in this village: here I introduce you to this poem by the famous Eugenio Montale, who spent part of his time in this place.
Vernazza
The second village of the Cinque Terre coming from Genoa is considered by many to be the most characteristic, with its colorful beach umbrellas on the seaside square. It’s the quickest to visit, provided you don’t want to linger and discover its secrets or walk to the beautiful Sanctuary of Reggio dedicated to the Black Madonna, or taste a glass of white wine from the young winemakers who are rediscovering the ancient art of their grandparents.
Corniglia
The Balcony Country.
His country is a balcony overlooking the sea. Crossing the most famous and narrow street in the center, known by everyone as Via Fieschi, you arrive at the Santa Maria Terrace at 90 meters above sea level, from where the view spans the entire Gulf of Poets, and on the clearest days, you can glimpse the mountains of Corsica. An excellent example of Ligurian Gothic art is the church of San Pietro, erected in the 16th century on a pre-existing structure. Here too, wonderful paths pass, from where, with the appropriate equipment, it is possible to reach its heights to immerse oneself in the heart of the park.
Manarola
Each country has its own Christmas traditions. In Italy – at home, on the streets, in shops, generally anywhere – apart from the usual Christmas tree, Christmas nativity scenes takes hold, they are called here Presepe. So, you can find the biggest Presepe in the World in Manarola! The opening ceremony starts on the 8th of December
Some history:
Presepe was designed and built by Mr. Mario Andreoli, who worked on the railway in the past and now he is in retirement at the moment. Since 1976 he has devoted his life to the realization of this unique project, and after 30 years, he finally managed to cover the entire hill. At last, Presepe sparkled like a rainbow at Christmas 2007 and was immediately added to the Guinness World Records. 6 miles of electric cables, 15,000 fires, 300 figures at full-scale which were made of the processed or unused materials were spent for implementation of this project. Since 2008, Presepe is also environmentally safe. Photovoltaic factory was built especially for it and this factory supplies electricity to maintain it, by the way, and its consumption in the last mountain was 13.440 kWh / year.
Riomaggiore
he village extends along a vertical axis where steep staircases are the only means of getting around within the town. The typical houses are towered, spanning two or more floors to make the best use of the available space, and one cannot help but notice the pastel colors (green, yellow, pink) of their facades. Descending from the boat that connects the various villages, you encounter the small harbor, and then, ascending a beautiful bench under a wide umbrella of pine branches, one cannot resist taking a souvenir photo of the surrounding panorama.
The Balcony Country.
His country is a balcony overlooking the sea. Crossing the most famous and narrow street in the center, known by everyone as Via Fieschi, you arrive at the Santa Maria Terrace at 90 meters above sea level, from where the view spans the entire Gulf of Poets, and on the clearest days, you can glimpse the mountains of Corsica. An excellent example of Ligurian Gothic art is the church of San Pietro, erected in the 16th century on a pre-existing structure. Here too, wonderful paths pass, from where, with the appropriate equipment, it is possible to reach its heights to immerse oneself in the heart of the park.
Il Paese Balcone.
Il suo paese è un balcone sul mare, Attraversando la più famosa e stretta via nel centro conosciuta da tutti come Via Fieschi si arriva alla Terrazza Santa Maria a 90 metri s.l.m da dove la vista spazia su tutto il golfo dei Poeti e, nelle giornate più limpide, si possono scorgere le montagne della Corsica. Ottimo esempio di arte gotico-ligure è la chiesa di San Pietro eretta nel 16° secolo su di una pre-esistente costruzione. Anche qui, passano sentieri meravigliosi da dove con la dovuta attrezzatura è possibile raggiungere le sue alture per immergersi nel centro del parco.
The second village of the Cinque Terre coming from Genoa is considered by many to be the most characteristic, with its colorful beach umbrellas on the seaside square. It’s the quickest to visit, provided you don’t want to linger and discover its secrets or walk to the beautiful Sanctuary of Reggio dedicated to the Black Madonna, or taste a glass of white wine from the young winemakers who are rediscovering the ancient art of their grandparents.
Secondo paese delle Cinque Terre provenendo da Genova, è da molti ritenuti il più caratteristico con i suoi ombrelloni variopinti sulla piazzetta fronte mare. Il più veloce da visitare, sempre che non ci si voglia soffermare a scoprirne i suoi segreti oppure camminare fino al bellissimo Santuario di Reggio dedicato alla Madonna Nera o degustare un calice di vino bianco dei giovani vignaioli che stanno riscoprendo l’arte antica dei lori nonni.
Liguria is known and appreciated for its sea, yet its inland areas are still relatively undiscovered, a treasure trove waiting to be explored. In addition to the world-renowned Cinque Terre National Park, it boasts many Regional Parks, Sites of Community Importance (S.I.C.), Protected Marine Areas, and even a UNESCO Global Geopark. This is because the Ligurian territory is a global biodiversity hotspot. Just think, in less than an hour, you can go from beaches to the Alps. Let’s also talk about the Ligurians: a people who have preserved traditions, who have always worked hard to extract products from their rugged land, and who, with just a few simple ingredients (chestnuts, garden vegetables, olives, grapes), have always created dishes worthy even of the most discerning palates, accompanied by excellent D.O.C. wines and dessert wines.
As a guide, I would like to take you to discover my beautiful Liguria, not only along its trails but also through its folklore and traditions, ensuring safety and proper expertise, but above all, providing you with emotions that will stay with you in your heart. I firmly believe that journeys, vacations, or even just a daily excursion should not only enrich our knowledge but also contribute to our well-being. Recently, as soon as I had the opportunity to join the Academy course, I also became a Forest Therapy Guide and a Forest Immersion Facilitator within the Teffit network, fully aware of the tremendous potential that some simple yet targeted forest practices offer for the psycho-physical well-being of individuals. I love children, and I am very happy when school groups come, as they are vibrant and sincere.
I look forward to welcoming you. Caterina Cogorno
liguria-experience.com 