Saturday, 13th May – Once again, it’s that time of the year when Camogli celebrates St.Fortunato, by offering a sizzling show on Saturday and fried fish on Sunday. Organizing a hike is harder than ever, given that it’s rather wet this week and, as if it were not enough, Trenitalia decided to cut the Pavia-Voghera railway line for 2 consecutive weekends.
Still, I think the fish festival is worth some extra effort to get around these hurdles. Since the visually entertaining bits are all on Saturday evening and the forecast should be less wet in the afternoon, let’s try meeting up on Saturday after lunch and walking from S.Margherita Ligure to Camogli. If the weather is favourable, we’ll take the panoramic path that goes across Bocche and Pietre Strette. ( north segment of https://portofinotrek.com/en/from-santa-margherita-ligure/64-174-santa-margherita-ligure-portofino-s-fruttuoso-san-rocco-pietre-strette-santa-margherita.html#/2-passing_through-portofino , hike takes around 3 hours and is rated as T/E, with 500 mt elevation gain)
If the weather turns out to be wet, we’ll walk along the easier ancient Roman route, from S.Margherita to S.Lorenzo and Ruta.
For those who are yet uninitiated, the Saturday program features two big statues, made of wooden junk, that are brought to the shore and burnt at the stake. There will be a procession, with people carrying the ark of S.Fortunato across town… and plenty of fireworks.
We’ll probably arrive at Camogli around 6pm, in time to marvel at the statues, before they get burned, and watch the sunset.
You may read more about the festival on:
– http://www.camogliedintorni.it/Falò.html
Return will be from Camogli.
Needless to say, if you plan to watch the fireworks and the burning of the statues, you might want to stay until 11pm or midnight.
If you choose to stay overnight, take into account that there’s the “buy 1 and get 1 free” train offer also on Sunday (courtesy of Trenitalia and Mother’s Day)
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How to get to S.Margherita Ligure and how to come back alive:
On Saturday, May 13th, let’s meet at 14:05 am at the entrance of S.Margherita Ligure station, by the infamous taxi telephone.
Suggested trains are:
– if you’re travelling eastwards
REG 13:13 Genova Piazza Principe – 14:05 S.Margherita Ligure
– if you’re travelling westwards
REG 13:28 Sestri Levante – 13:55 S.Margherita Ligure
– if you’re travelling southwards
a nightmare of regional trains (*) or a long Intercity train, if you’re coming from Milano. A more comfortable connection from Torino.
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(*) if you’re coming from afar, you may consider getting the regional weekend pass for 22 euro. For some odd reason, Trenitalia decided to call it Weekend Insieme ( https://www.trenitalia.com/it/treni_regionali/promozioni-regionali/promo-weekend-insieme.html ) but you’re perfectly entitled to travel on your own.
As usual, if you have doubts, questions, Hamlet-like dilemmas… feel free to message me ( vidlothianATgmailDOTcom ) or call me (+393297203364)
Liguriah 