Genoa’s province and the entire Ligurian territory are home to many retirees but the sleepy region undergoes a complete transformation when the calendar reads June and, from being a dormant and tranquil region during the colder months, the place becomes a busy and happening venue offering daily festivals, food events ( sagre ), outdoor concerts and themed parties, held at different locations throughout its coastline and in the countryside’s towns as well.

After the peaceful laziness of the winter months, spent mostly indoor sipping cappuccinos and watching too much TV, Ligurian people are now ready to spend the summer nights wandering around outside in the perfect temperature of the long and warm summer nights.  The beach has no curfew and it becomes the theatre of many events such as free movie screenings, live concerts and dance parties and it always offers the best view spots for firework displays which happen virtually every night throughout the summer in order to celebrate each town’s patron saint, Santo Patrono.



The sagra, or food fest, has been part of the Italian tradition for ages and historically it was an occasion to thank the gods and gain favors for the upcoming season. The name sagra comes indeed from the Latin word ‘sacred’ and, although the religious aspect of the celebration has been long-forgotten, even today attending such festivals is highly perceived as a mandatory appointment for Italians as it symbolizes summer, opulence and of course food, which is the undisputed protagonist of most Italian events.

The sagra offers themed food stalls which usually sell only one or two homemade local dishes prepared to perfection using organic products. At the food festival the atmosphere is very convivial and informal and we all grab a dish or two and sit to eat at long rustic wooden tables, mingling with strangers of all ages. With the arrival of the summer in fact it is now time to let go of the winter’s pout: Ligurian people, who are usually well-known for their curt and introverted personality, now become jovial and cheerful, ready to sport their glowing tans and share their vacation plans with fellow sagra-goers.



My personal favorites have always been the Medieval sagre for which original villages, dating back to the Middle Ages, are decorated to resemble the way they used to look like at that time and, during this season of the year, these quiet tiny villages inhabited by grandmas and grandpas become the stage of Medieval shows and games such as jousting, falconry and historical reenactments.

  The villages come to life with traditional music and local volunteers dressed in costumes involve both adults and children in games and competitions or encourage them to attend some of the workshops held throughout town where anyone can learn how to create traditional handicrafts such as pottery and jewelry.




Among friends the question is not: “Are you going to the sagra ?” but rather: “When are you going to the sagra ?” so it is not uncommon to run into friends, relatives and colleagues in the crowd and share the experience with an evergrowing number of people. It’s indeed now time to join forces and enjoy the party atmosphere together to make everlasting memories which won’t fade at the end of summer with the tan.