| The famous pesto (basil, cheese, garlic, oil and pine nuts) can be found on most Ligurian menus. Or visit Recco, near Camogli and Portofino, for a lunch of focaccia cheese and troffie - spindle shaped pasta made from chestnut flour. Soups to try - minestrone alla Genovese, ciuppin fish soup. For the carnivores, cima veal roll stuffed with egg, cheese and vegetables; Genovese beef stew with onions and tomato sauce. Be adventurous with goat’s meat with beans or San Remo rabbit cooked with garlic, rosemary, pine nut oil and white wine. Vegetables are all fresh and home grown - spinach, artichokes and zucchini are a must. For dessert, amaretti di Sassello macarrons. And cheese - San Stae from Santo Stefano d’Aveto - or Casareccio from Gorreto and Tomino from the Val Brevenna, with focaccia from Recco. And the ultimate breakfast treat - canestrello melt-in-the-mouth pastries. | | Follow Magoni’s guide to where’s best for what - glassware at Altare; ceramic pottery at Albisola; velvet in Zoagli; damask, brocade and lampas in Lorsic; lace in Rapallow and Portofino; macramé in Chiavari; olive oil in Oneglia. Most towns have outdoor markets - check with the local tourist office. Don’t miss the glorious daily flower market in San Remo (October to June). | | The finest red is Rossese of Dolceacqua with hints of blackberry, redcurrent and pine resin. Another good red is Ormeasco, dry with subtle cherry and blackberry flavour, from Pieve die Teco and Pornassio. Dry white Vermention from the Nervia Valley is excellent and Pigato from the Arroscia Valley. Other names to look out for are Pian del Vescovo, Costa Marina, Monte Bernardo, Bricco Arcagna, Villa Torrachetta and Le Petraie. | | There is no doubt that this stretch of coastline, where France meets Italy is full of architectural and artistic treasures. The capital city of Genoa, where past and present combine, offers up a real mix of architecture from an entire range of periods throughout history right up until the present day. The Strade Nuove and the Palazzi dei Rolli appears on UNESCO’s World Heritage site list and is considered one of the earliest examples of European urban planning. For classic paintings head to the Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria where you can admire works from Rubens, Van Dyck and Strozzi. And for a more modern twist, the Aquarium; not sufficient in being one of the most technologically advanced sea life centres in Europe, its external facade by Italian architect Renzo Piano is truly spectacular. The region of Savona is home to The Battistero is one of the most important early Christian monument is Liguria. It is also home to eight towns all listed as amongst the most beautiful in Italy. La Spezia’s has a collection of museums and home to the centre for modern and contemporary art.
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