The small town of Cairo Montenotte lies in the region of Liguria in the North Western part of Italy and borders on the Piedmonte region to the North. Combined the two regions boast a long shore-line with the Mediterranean, seaside resorts, ancient ports and towns, hills, plains and many places of historic interest. This part of Italy is known for its delicate food and famous wine.
Liguria
Liguria borders on France to the west, Piedmonte to the north, and Tuscany to the east. Liguria is a narrow strip of land, enclosed between the Mediterranean Sea, the Alps and the Apennines mountains, it is a winding arched extension from the towns of Ventimiglia in the north to La Spezia in the south. The two major ports are Genova and Savona.
The ring of hills, lying immediately beyond the coast, together with the beneficial influence of the sea, account for the mild climate the whole year round (with average winter temperatures of 7-10° C and summer temperatures of 23°-24° C) which makes for a pleasant stay even in the heart of winter.
Mountains and steep cliffs rise loftily out of the sea on the Ligurian coast which is in the most northerly part of the Mediterranean. The capital Genova is one of the most important ports on the Mediterranean and home to Christopher Columbus with a powerful maritime presence dating back to the Middle Ages. Today one can find impressive buildings, elegant mansions, and wonderful churches – all of which bear witness to Liguria’s glorious past and which blend in perfectly with the modern city. Just 24 kilometers from the estate in Cairo Montenotte lies Savona, a coastal town with a harbour, a marina and cruise terminal. The town has a very beautiful historic center with a cathedral, a large fortress, good shops and restaurants. In other parts of Liguria, there are also numerous historical treasures. An intact and luxuriant Mediterranean vegetation exists in the mountain regions of Portofino and Cinqueterre. San Remo is one of Italy’s most famous bathing resorts and the place where the annual Italian pop music festival takes place. The beautiful Benedict Monastery S. Fruttuoso merits a visit. There are many other important historical monuments to be explored.
Liguria is where Pesto is originally from, one of the most popular sauces in Italian cuisine. Seafood is a major staple of Ligurian cuisine, as the sea has been part of the region’s culture since its beginning. Another important aspect of the culture there is the beach. Tourists have been flocking to the Italian Riviera for decades to experience its deep blue waters.
Piedmonte
Piedmonte is surrounded on three sides by the Alps, including Monviso and Monte Rosa. It borders France, Switzerland and the Italian regions of Lombardy, Liguria and the Aosta Valley. The geography of Piedmonte is more than 40% mountainous, along with extensive areas of hills (30%) and plains ( more than 25%).Piedmonte is the second largest of Italy’s 20 provinces, after Sicily. It is broadly contiguous with the upper part of the drainage basin of the river Po, which rises from the slopes of Monviso in the west of the region and is Italy’s largest river. The Po collects all the waters provided within the semicircle of the Alps and Apennines mountains which surround the region on three sides. From the highest peaks the land slopes down to hilly areas. The countryside, then, is very varied: one passes from the rugged peaks of the massifs of Monte Rosa and of Gran Paradiso (national park), to the damp rice paddies of the Vercellese and Novarese; from the gentle hillsides of the Langhe and of Monferrat to the plains. The Langhe region is near Cairo Montenotte and is well-known for its delicate food and excellent wine. There are 56 different national or regional parks. One such park is the Gran Paradiso National Park. More than half of its 700 km2 (170,000 acres) of vineyards are registered with DOC designations. It produces prestigious wines such as Barolo, Barbaresco, from the Langhe near Alba, and the Moscato d’Asti (as well as the sparkling Asti Spumante) from the vineyards around Asti. Indigenous grape varieties include Nebbiolo, Barbera, Dolcetto, Freisa, Grignolino and Brachetto.
Since 2006, the Piedmonte region has also benefited from the start of the Slow Food movement, and Terra Madre, events that have highlighted the rich agricultural and vinicultural value of the Po valley and northern Italy.