Liberty Meadows
Liberty Meadows
Searching for a 2nd Home in the Eastern Liguria Inland (Italy)
Our journey through the interior of Eastern Liguria begins at Busalla, where we leave the A7 Motorway to take the State Road n. 226 of Scrivia Valley. We will pass through the Scrivia and Fontanabuona Valleys, from Busalla to Carasco This is inland of Genoa and Tigullio Gulf, formerly dominated by the Genoan Fieschi family, who left in this area palaces and castles testifying still now to its ancient political and military power. At Carasco we will take the local road n. 586, ascending the Sturla Valley and then we will go along the Upper Vara Valley, to the village of Varese Ligure, a small gem in this pristine green valley, in the province of La Spezia. From Varese Ligure, you have the choice of continuing to explore the interior ascending to the Cento Croci pass, at the border with Emilia, or going down to the coast along the road n. 523 to the resort of Sestri Levante.
Savignone and Casella are the first villages we see after leaving Busalla. Savignone is located in the Scrivia Valley, 29 km from Genoa, on a hill at an altitude of 471 m. The village was inhabited from very ancient times (remains date back to V – IV century B.C.). It came under the domain of the Fieschi family at the end of the XIII century. The Fieschi built a powerful castle for the defence of the village and in the second half of XVI century a residential palace which has been now transformed in a charming hotel. Savignone had its golden age between the end of XIX and the beginning of XX century, when the wealth Genoan bourgeoisie established their holiday homes there: many of them are interesting examples of liberty architecture. Nowadays, Savignone is predominately a residential site, where people can find a pleasant place with a good climate where to live close to nature and where the houses (may be even a small liberty villa) have affordable prices. Casella, similar to Savignone, had its tourist develop during 1800's, when many rich Genoans chose it as a holiday resort. In that period, the Casella square was a summer extension of the elegant Genoan life. In 1929 a narrow gauge railway (it is still working) was built to connect Casella to Genoa. The railway crosses the Orero hill offering the view of a wonderful scenery.
We continue to drive on the State Road n 226 along the river Laccio to the village of Montoggio(2,090 inhabitants, 438 m a.s.l.). Situated at the confluence of the torrents Laccio and Pentema, which give origin to the river Scrivia, surrounded by meadows, beech and chestnut trees and mountains over 1,000 meters (Antola, Liprando, Bano) with a breathtaking view of the Alps and the sea, Montoggio is the central point of the valley. From there, we follow the river Scrivia to the village of Laccio and to the Scoffera pass (674 m a.s.l.), which gives access to Bisagno Valley. After the pass, we leave the Bisagna Valley for the tortuous but scenic road which leads to the State Road n. 225 and gives access to Fontanabuona Valley, known for the slate quarries scattered throughout the whole area. The name (literally "Good Fountain") seems to come from the excellent water springing from the fountain in the square of Favale di Màlvaro, a small village on the left side. The long quiet valley, which runs parallel to the coast for about 20 km, has a good tourist appeal (Moconesi for example is a popular resort), but in the last years the demand for residential houses is also increasing. People love to come to live in the small villages along this green valley, not far from the coast, with good services and lower costs. The village of Gattorna, in the upper valley,isknown for the tradition of "poor toys".The pinwheels and the toys made of cloth or cardboard by the Gattorna toymakers, are featured nowadays by a small museum in the centre of the village. After Gattorna, we arrive in Cicagna, an important centre in the middle of the valley and a former stop on the ancient salt route ("via del sale"). Nowadays, Cicagna's economy is mainly based on olive and fruit trees cultivation and on slate production: a museum explains the processing of the slate extracted from Fontanabuona quarries). Then we continue on the state road n. 225 passing thru the many villages on the banks of river Lavagna and in a few minutes we are in Carasco, a lively village in the lower valley, at the confluence of three torrents: Lavagna, Sturla and Graveglia. We are only 6,5 km far from Chiavari, on the coast, and sea scents fill the woods, but here we have to leave the State Road n. 225, which continues to the sea, to go up on the Sturla Valley.
We take the road n. 586 ("della Val d'Aveto"), which follows the river Sturla passing through Mezzanego. At Borgonovo Ligure, we continue on the road 26bis and begin to climb among the beech to the Bocco Pass(956 m a.s.l). On the pass, admist beautiful scenery, we head towards Varese Ligure, the final destination of our itinerary. The road descends steeply to Vara Valley, the least populated (and the most pristine) territory in La Spezia Province. The large profussion of organic farms in this territory gave it the appellation Organic Valley. The village of Varese came into the domain of the Fieschi family in 1161, when they received the feud from the Emperor Fredrick I. In the XIII century, the Fieschi designed a round hamlet (the famous "Borgo Rotondo") with boths defensive and residential function. This explains the elliptical shape of the village and the fact that originally the houses had no openings on the external side. To protect the access to the hamlet, a fortified castle (now privately owned) with an imposing high circular tower was placed on the north side. Varese Ligure belongs to the Club of Italy Most Beautiful Villages. It also received the Orange Flag from the Italian Touring Club and it is awarded as the most ecological village in Italy.
About the Author
Massimo Viola is the founder of Liguria for Sale, a web guide for foreigners who want to buy home in Liguria (Italy).
What is your favorite HIPPY name?(from my list only)?
Girls :
Autumn
Aurora
Blossom
Breezy
Chakra
Cassiopia
Dancer
Destiny
Echo
Emerald
Felicity
Flower
Gia
Grace
Harmony
Honesty
Indica
Iris
Jasmine
Jewel
Karma
Kassia (cash-ah)
Lavender
Liberty
Meadow
Melody
Opal
Ora(or-ah)
Phoebe
Promise
Rainbow
Rhiannon
Scarlett
Spirit
Talia
Thyme
Violet
Vada
Willow
Winter
Zoey
Ziggy
HIPPIE (not hippy lol *doy* what was I thinking)
I don't know why, but I love hippie names. Not necessarily for babies, but I love using them in stories. They have so much personality. My favorite is probably Echo. I also like Autumn.
Liberty Meadows
Liberty Meadows Estates Part 1
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In the Meadows $49.99 Walter Bonner Gash In the Meadows - Giclee Print |
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Meadows I $19.99 Meadows I - Art Print |
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Meadows II $19.99 Meadows II - Art Print |
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Liberty $19.99 Liberty - Masterprint |
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April in the Meadows $39.99 William Bartlett April in the Meadows - Giclee Print |
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Meadows at Giverny $34.99 Claude Monet Meadows at Giverny - Giclee Print |
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Meadows in Spring $34.99 Giovanni Segantini Meadows in Spring - Giclee Print |
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Jersey Meadows $39.99 Martin Johnson Heade Jersey Meadows - Giclee Print |
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In Canterbury Meadows $34.99 Thomas Sidney Cooper In Canterbury Meadows - Giclee Print |
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Meadows in Bloom $34.99 Greg Singley Meadows in Bloom - Art Print |
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Fields and Meadows $24.99 Vincenzo Balocchi Fields and Meadows - Photographic Print |
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Golden Meadows $24.99 Alix Stefan Golden Meadows - Art Print |
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Green Meadows $29.99 Thomas Stotts Green Meadows - Giclee Print |
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Across the Meadows $34.99 Alfred Augustus Glendening Across the Meadows - Giclee Print |
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Blooming Meadows $26.99 Candra Boggs Blooming Meadows - Art Print |
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RVCA The Meadows Top $46 RVCA The Meadows Top |
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FRESH MEADOWS SHIRT $89 FRESH MEADOWS SHIRT |
Don't Look for Leadership in Washington
Copyright (c) 2010 Scott F Paradis
How has a free nation with an established government of the people, by the people, for the people so lost its way? A quick read of the headlines - unemployment, failed economy, terrorism, growing public and private debt, climate change, illegal immigration, American imperialism, burgeoning population, increasing pollution, reliance on foreign sources of energy, aging citizenry, corporate charlatanism, materialism, consumerism, governance in disarray, overall moral decay - unquestionably offers plenty of opportunity for creative ideas and forward, solution-oriented thinking. It is, in fact, time for change. Where then, should people look for answers? Where do we find the necessary leadership? Certainly not in Washington.
That the United States, a nation founded on principles of self-reliance and self-determination, looks toward Washington, DC for answers is itself the best indication of how terribly awry the experiment in self-government has gone. By looking to Washington we have completely taken "self" out of government. The farther people are removed from the elements of power, the less they have the means or the motivation to chart their own future, guide their own destiny, find their collective way. Without "we the people", the government will no more seek a perfect union, nor establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, or secure the blessings of liberty.
By abandoning our roles as governor and government we have abrogated our most basic of duties - our most precious of liberties - that right won with blood - the opportunity for self government. Looking to Washington for leadership, that is relying on professional politicians to lead in a system driven by money and special interests, is a recipe for disaster - a disaster coming into more precise focus every day.
The age-old criticism of democracy is that the citizenry is too lazy, too stupid and too self-serving to actually govern itself. Human beings need a benefactor, an enforcer to manage and discipline errant, misguided, selfish characters. The instruments of government are too valuable and too powerful to be left in the hands of the masses - the great unwashed. The people need only be fed and entertained. They seek not the work nor responsibility of governing, wisely and justly.
The pace, complexity, tools and threats of modern life have allowed divergent, power-hungry forces to exploit common human frailties. Manipulation of greed and fear have served to centralize power so effectively the citizens of the United States are now held hostage by innumerable rules, a faceless bureaucracy and the unchained power of money and mass media. Though happiness remains the core, singular desire; for reasons yet to be explained, money and power are held as the predominant means to achieving that end.
As we enter another election season, some look to government for the solution. Some look to unbridled capitalism and free-enterprise to usher in prosperity. Some kneel at the altar of finance, while others placate themselves with the promise of a social welfare state. The rhetoric rises and falls like a well-measured beat. The tone is melodic, yet solutions remain stale and still-born. The United States is at a cross-roads. We can continue to rely on grandiose promises of something for nothing, achievement without sacrifice, success without work, reaping without harvesting, where we gladly follow the pied piper through the meadow to the cliffs of discontent. Or we can chart a new course, a course of collective effort, of work, of pain, of sacrifice, of risk. For these are the jewels of life, in everyone's possession, leading assuredly to the happiness we seek.
To fulfill the promise that was once our destiny and might be so again we must dream great dreams, exert great effort and take great risk. The choice is between a slow decline into poverty and obscurity or taking on the task of creating a future of promise and potential. Leadership is not to be found in Washington - the solutions lie with you.
About the Author
Scott F. Paradis, author of "Promise and Potential: A Life of Wisdom, Courage, Strength and Will"
http://www.promiseandpotential.com
publishes "Insights" and a free weekly ezine, "Money, Power and the True Path to Prosperity". Subscribe now at
http://www.c-achieve.com
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The Benchwarmers $4.42 Features include: •MPAA Rating: PG-13•Format: DVD•Runtime: 80 minutes... |
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Saturday Night Live: The Best of Chris Farley $2.79 The "heavyweight" comic who won fame with such "SNL" characters as motivational speaker Matt Foley, a would-be Chippendales dancer, and the hapless host of "The Chris Farley Show" shines in this collection of his funniest turns. 62 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English stereo; bonus footage.... |
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That Old Feeling $2.49 When former spouses Bette Midler and Dennis Farina arrive, each with new mate in tow, to attend their daughter's wedding, the sparks that fly between them quickly change from mutual animosity to mutual passion in this spry romantic romp from director Carl Reiner. With Gail O'Grady, David Rasche, Paula Marshall. 106 min. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English 5.1, French, Spanish; Subtitles: English, Spa... |
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Liberty Meadows Brandy Statue CS Moore Studio $439.99 2006 Release, Limited to 1,500 numbered pieces. She's tall, she's gorgeous and she has little animal pals. What more could you ask for? 13" tall including the amazingly detailed base (complete with Truman and Oscar).... |
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9 Frank Cho Liberty Meadows Truman the Duck Plush Doll $25.00 ... |
Liberty Meadows
