Page 140 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

138  THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A AREA B Y AREA

1 Varazze also a polyptych
(16th century) depicting
Savona. Road Map C3. * 14,000.
V @ n Corso Matteotti 56, 019 Blessed Jacopo and other
935 043. _ Processione e Corteo saints, by Simone da
Storico di Santa Caterina da Siena Pavia, and a 12th-
(30 Apr); Festa del Mare (early Aug). century fresco, probably
∑ turismoinliguria.it of the Sienese school,
with a Madonna delle
At the eastern end of the Grazie. A cannon ball,
Riviera di Ponente, Varazze fired from a French ship
is a major seaside resort, in 1746, is embedded in
complete with a beach and the church façade.
palm-shaded promenade. From San Domenico
The town’s name derives visitors can enjoy a
from the Roman name of lovely seafront walk
Varagine (“trees”), though it along disused railway
was later known as Ad Navalia tracks; various paths en
(“At the shipyards”). Both names route cut inland up to
were appropriate since much Monte Beigua.
of the local wood was used for
boat-building. The town was Environs
the birthplace of Jacobus de Celle Ligure, 3 km The seafront at Varazze
Varagine, a famous 13th-century (2 miles) west of Varazze,
friar and writer, and later a saint. is a small fishing village with for miles in all directions,
In the old centre, sights of twisting carruggi (narrow streets) and is a starting point for
interest include the church and a wall of hills behind. The numerous walks.
of Sant’Ambrogio, dating from tradition of painting the houses The park’s rocky heart is typically
1535. Remaining from an earlier in bright colours began so that composed of ophiolites, also
14th-century construction is an sailors could identify them known as “green rocks”
imposing brick bell tower in the while still at sea. (mainly serpentine) –
Lombard style, complete with a The Deserto di metamorphic rocks
spire. The Neo-Renaissance Varazze, 9 km derived from changes
façade, in Finale stone, was built (6 miles) inland which occurred
in 1916. The courtyard is paved from Celle Ligure, in the original
in beach pebbles, laid out in a is another lovely igneous rock.
pretty geometrical design. The spot. It is a simple Prehistoric axes
façade of an earlier, Romanesque 17th-century found in this area
church dedicated to Sant’ hermitage Scented daphne, symbol of the are on display,
Ambrogio has been incorpo- associated with Parco del Beigua along with other
rated, curiously, into the town the barefoot prehistoric
walls, an impressive work Carmelite friars, and surrounded utensils, at the Museo Civico
dating from the 12th century. by a dense wood. di Archeologia in Pegli, near
Built in 1419, but much Genoa (see p86). Prehistoric (as
modified since, the church 2 Parco Naturale well as more recent) graffiti
of San Domenico is famous has also been discovered in
as the home of the silver urn del Beigua Monte Beigua.
that contains the remains of Genoa/Savona. Road Map C3. V The flora and fauna in the
Jacobus de Varagine. There is @ n Ente Parco del Beigua: Via G park are extremely varied. In
Marconi 165, Arenzano, 010 859 03 00. terms of the flora, there are vast
∑ parks.it numbers of beeches, and the
Alpine aster (Aster alpinus) is also
This densely forested park common. Drosera (Drosera
covers an area of 17,000 ha rotundi folia), an insect-eating
(42,000 acres) and runs from carnivorous plant, can be found
the border with Piemonte down in the wetland area known as
to the coast, east of Varazze. the Riserva del Laione. There is
It is the largest of the region’s also the scented daphne
three national parks and takes (Daphne cneorum), whose
its name from Monte Beigua characteristic pink flowers have
(1,300 m/4,265 ft), which is been chosen as the symbol of
accessible by road. The grassy the park. The wildlife is also
plain at the mountain summit varied, and includes foxes,
The Romanesque church of Sant’Ambrogio provides a platform for badgers, weasels, wild boar and
at Varazze wonderful views stretching roe deer. Two endemic species
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp182–3 and pp194–7

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