| Il Poggio: | The area |
No doubt there are essentially two reasons why one should wish to stay at Il Poggio: living in a quiet, green place, and at the same time visiting the wonderful but often over-crowded sea-side resorts of the Ligurian Riviera nearby
( one-day trips to Portofino, Cinque Terre, Genoa)
Yet,the immediate surroundings of Cornia should not be overlooked: the hilly landscape is attractive and typical , with interesting trails
The villages along tha valley road form a string of small, tradition-rooted centres, where life is as simple as it used to be years ago. For those interested in eco-museums and museums of old traditions, there is a fairly nice place in Chiapparino ( Eco-museo dell'Ardesia) where to learn about the slate quarries which the wealth of the area relies upon. One of the historical quarries is set in Cornia and may be visited at some times. Someone will like to know that Columbus was born here ( a monument of the XIX century exists in Cicagna to remind the visitors of this glory).
There is a tradition for Ligurian cooking. You can try the small, unexpensive places along the valley road ( in Monleone, pizzeria Bella Napoli, or Settebello, in Ferrada) : they are not fashionable and designed restaurants, but try the "focaccia col formaggio alla Recco", the pesto sauce, and you will be satisfied.
An interesting place is Batesto in S.Salvatore, a village you cross direction Lavagna, just near the "Lavagna" exit of the highway. At Batesto's you can have "fritto misto all'Italiana", plus many of his specialities ( by the way,there is a beautiful gothic church to be visited in S.Salvatore)
If you venture to Chiavari ( that is worth a visit anyway, with its medieval center and beautiful marina and coast) you find very good fish.
Find the small places shaded by the medieval arcades near the S.Giovanni church: here they have a tradition for "farinata" and fried fish. Don't forget to have "pansoti con la salsa di noci" , a stuffed pasta with nut-based sauce.
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Also, give a look at the painted facades you come across along the road, especially in the little old core of Cicagna: this a Ligurian tradition, still alive.
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