Not only the sea: living the autumn in the villages of Savona

Autumn has just begun and theme events continue throughout Liguria; in a previous article we have already talked about the autumn holidays that took place over the past few weeks. Today we offer another overview about festivals, craft workshops, flea markets and chestnuts – even for charity! – which will be held in the beautiful villages of the province of Savona.

A land to live all year round

Our Hotel and Residence Ai Pozzi Village is located right in the Savona area, in the beautiful city of Loano. Being a small town on the coast, tourism is much more concentrated during the summer months, when crowds of young people, couples and families can’t wait to spend their holidays by the sea. But once the summer ends the atmosphere changes: the beaches are empty, the streets of the center are less crowded and everything becomes much quieter and more relaxed. Autumn is the ideal time to take a relaxing break by the sea, take long walks and eat fresh fish.
In the villages of the hinterland there is a different climate: the beautiful warm shades of nature – between yellow, red and orange – and the typical mushroom and chestnut festivals give a cheerful and welcoming atmosphere.

Events, festivals and handicrafts in the Savona area

But now let’s see what events are scheduled for this weekend.

Autumn Festival in Ortovero

Sunday 13 September in the village of Ortovero, in the hinterland of Albenga, about 20 km from Loano, there will be the autumn festival “U mangià de cà” which in Ligurian dialect literally means “food from here”. So you can’t miss the typical food such as walnut pansotti, panfritto and polenta with different sauces. The food stands will open from 12.30 pm while from 2.00 pm onwards hot chestnuts will be served. A rally with vintage vehicles will also be organized to which everyone can participate with their vintage car or motorcycle and a panoramic tour with a lot of aperitif.

Quiliano Castagnata

Even at the Arci club in Via Porcile in Quiliano, autumn is celebrated with its most typical fruit: roasted chestnuts are the real protagonists, but you can also enjoy other deliciousness such as hot focaccia. Appointment for Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 from 15.00 to 20.00.

Charity chestnut at the kennel of Savona

The lovers of our four-legged friends will not be able to miss the opportunity to do them good with this event which, now in its seventh edition, wants to combine business with pleasure. The “CaNstagnata” is in fact organized by volunteers with the aim of raising funds for the kennel in Via Massa 11 in Savona. This is where the party will take place this Sunday, October 13th, where, starting at 3.30pm, you can eat roasted chestnuts or other sweet and savoury dishes and participate in charity fishing. With the occasion it will be possible to know all the guests of the kennel waiting for a family to welcome them.

Sunday in the Borgo at Finalborgo

This event, born from the association of the most beautiful villages in Italy of which Finalborgo is part, aims to promote and enhance the small realities of these charming villages where time seems to have stopped. Given that the past editions have seen the historic shops as protagonists, this will be entirely dedicated to local crafts, very common in Finalborgo. For the occasion, Sunday, October 13 from 10.00 to 19.00, walking through the streets of the village, it will be possible to admire the wise and ancient work of the artisans at work at the entrance of their shops. You will no doubt be enchanted by seeing their mastery in transforming and shaping the material to create decorative objects, paper and fabric artifacts, jewelry, ceramics, glass products and embroidered fabrics.

Mushrooms in Piazza and Castagnata in Calizzano

In the village of Calizzano, in the heart of Valbormida, about 30 km from Loano, two festivals are scheduled to celebrate the most famous products of autumn: mushrooms and chestnuts.
Sunday, October 13th from 8.30 am to 6.00 pm, the 25th edition of the “Funghi in Piazza” festival will take place. As always, there will be stalls selling handicrafts and typical food and wine products, cuisine with a menu based on mushrooms, music and much more.

A week later, Sunday 20 October will be the turn of the Chestnut Festival which has been organized for the third Sunday of October for 29 years now. From 8.00 to 18.00 walking around the village will meet caldarrostai (people who prepare roasted cheastnuts) at every corner that will take part in the usual championship. Also, on this occasion collateral events will take place such as the baptism of the saddle, demonstrations of archery and entertainment for children and the craft market.