Imperia. Museo dell’Olivo Fratelli Carli

Apricale

Dolceacqua

You are invited to taste for yourself the treasures of the gastronomy of Western Liguria, the Italian Riviera on an intensive and flavour filled tour which is guaranteed to make you love the cusine of our region. We are at the meeting point of the mountains and the sea, famed since antiquity as the realms of goddess Athena, godmother of extra virgin olive oil and of the god Dionysius, god of wine which has always been at the core of the true Mediterranean diet.

If you go looking for the ‘Gold of the Italian Riviera’ what will you discover? Well, here you will find a different Liguria, shy and reserved, where olive trees and vines cling tenaciously to the ‘Alpi marittime’ . A Liguria of small olive presses and sheltered villages with narrow alleyways and spectacular church bell towers where the high mountains and deep valleys plunge into the azure sea.

Home made pasta, pesto, stuffed vegetables and ‘focacce’ have for long been famous well beyond our territory. But, here you will also discover the most authentic tastes of our region: our olive oil and the ‘Nectar ’of the Riviera, Rossese, Ormeasco, Vermentino and Pigato. These are wines with a long history which have always been produced in limited quantities. They all have an intense nose and flavour and , as such, they are viewed as the perfect emblem of an area which is so colourful, bright and full of life.

Land of genuine tradition, aromas, flavours the Riviera di Ponente opens it’s door and offers to accompany you on a wonderful, authentic voyage of discovery of all that is best in the region.

Program

1st Day

Arrival in late afternoon in San Remo check in to your hotel of 3 or 4 stars. Dinner in the hotel restaurant.

After dinner you will be able to try your luck in the gaming room of the historic Casino.

Overnight stay.

2nd Day: The Gold of Liguria

During this day you will discover how, for more than two centuries, cultivation of the Olive has regulated the daily life and the economy of our region.

After breakfast you will be driven to Imperia Oneglia for a visit to the Museo dell’Olivo (closed on Sundays) of the Fratelli Carli, oil producers, of Imperia. The museum, which was named European museum of the year in 1993 by the Council of Europe, is to be found in the heart of Oneglia which has been an oil port for millennia. You will gain an idea of the unique work practices which testify to the value, both symbolic and cultural, of the tree which has been cultivated longer than any other by man. In the museum you can follow the story of more than 6000 years of cultivation of the olive in the Mediterranean region. Among the exhibits are: examples of the ‘dried walls’ used to terrace the slopes of the ‘Alpi Marittime’, an ancient olive press and the hold of a Roman olive carrier. After immersing yourself in the history of the olive it is possible to visit the modern facility of the Fratelli Carli and indulge in some shopping in the adjacent shop.

Lunch is in a local restaurant where you will be able to enjoy Ligurian specialities.

In the afternoon you will visit the premises of the Raineri company (founded in 1910), where you will be able to watch the various stages involved in the production of extra virgin olive oil. The guiding principle of the company is to offer to the customer a product of the highest quality-a true ‘cold pressed’ extra virgin olive oil. The extra virgin olive oil of the Raneri company was used at the official gala dinner of the 1990 “Nobel Prize” in Stockholm,and,at the 1991 “Gran Giubileo”.

Return to the hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

3rd Day: The Nectar of the Riviera

The Riviera ,land of mountain and sea, is also a land of great wines ,produced in limited quantities on man-made terraces which cling to the hillsides along the inaccessible alpine valleys

In the morning there is a transfer to Dolceacqua, the pearl of the Nervia valley; this delightful medieval village contains a humpbacked bridge and the ruins of the castle of Doria . Here ,among the artisanal shops you will discover the ‘Nectar of the Riviera, Rossese di Dolceacqua. This vintage wine, which has an intense taste, was the first Ligurian wine to receive the prestigious classification (D.O.) denomination of origin.

At lunchtime there will be a chance to visit the celler owned by the Gajaudo Family. Here you will be able to taste the entire list of the wines produced in the Riviera di Ponente accompanied by tasty locally produced food.

In the afternoon there is a visit to the medieval village of Apricale which is a warren of alleyways and is to be found on the slopes of the Alps. Here you can try for yourself the original Ligurian snack, zabaione with pansarole, little sweets coated with sugar.

Return to hotel, dinner and overnight stay.

4th Day: The Black Pearl: The “Taggiasca” Olive

We invite you to visit the “realm”of the taggiasca olive: la Valle Argentina is ready to introduce you to the flavour and colour of ‘Ligurian gold.

After breakfast coach transfer to Taggia, ’the land dedicated to olives’, to visit la Casa Olearia Taggiasca, a new olive oil producing company which is dedicated to the preparation of vintage oils. The company has a production facility of 200 sq.mtrs., which means you can visit various departments, amongst which are those dealing with manufacturing and stockpiling.

At the end of the visit you will be able to visit the elegant show room where you will be invited to taste the extra virgin olive oil as well as other products which are typical of our region.

Afterwards there is a visit to the historical centre of the town which contains the monastery of San Domenico. The monastery was founded by Cristoforo di Milano, a Domenican friar, in 1459 and contains many precious works by Ludovico, Antonio and Francesco Brea, Giovanni Canavesio and Emanuele Maccari, known as il Macario.

At the end of the visit departure for your home destination.