Traveling with L’Officina dei Giardini: the scent of Liguria
August 5, 2024
Liguria is a land of harmonious contrasts, where the deep blue of the sea meets the lush green of the hills and history intertwines with the local gastronomic culture. From west to east, the common thread is an enchanting landscape, animated by millennial traditions that blend with the region’s vibrant culinary culture.
Over the decades, L’Officina dei Giardini has contributed to the excellence of many of the area’s realities, creating unique structures that fit perfectly into their surroundings. The fil rouge we propose runs through five fascinating locations on the Ligurian Riviera: Alassio, Albenga, Rapallo, Santa Margherita Ligure and Portofino. Each holds a small great masterpiece from L’Officina dei Giardini.
Alassio
The journey begins in Alassio, a delightful coastal town renowned for its long, golden sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere. The undisputed symbol of Alassio is the Muretto, decorated with tiles signed by artists and celebrities, which tells stories of encounters and inspiration. After a stroll through the old town, don’t miss a taste of the Baci di Alassio, exquisite chocolate and hazelnut sweets.
Adding to the charm of your stay is the luxury hotel Villa della Pergola, a historic mansion whose gardens are part of the Great Italian Gardens circuit. L’Officina dei Giardini has created the pool bar here, a high-performance solid-section steel and glass structure with a rectangular plan and blind roof, perfectly integrated into the context.
Albenga
A town of medieval charm, Albenga retains an almost intact historic centre. Stroll among the towers and cobbled alleyways leading to the Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo, a masterpiece of Romanesque architecture. Among the first fruits of the Piana di Albenga are the famous Albenga artichokes, protagonists of many local dishes.
You will find traces of L‘Officina dei Giardini in the pavilion of the Caffè Letterario ai Gardinetti in Piazza del Popolo, a creation that dates back to 2006 and is now a piece of the town’s history.
Rapallo
Leaving the west coast, the itinerary leads to Rapallo, an enchanting town in the Tigullio region, where history and nature meet in a perfect union: the Castello sul Mare, built in the 16th century to defend against pirates, is a symbol of the town and offers a spectacular view of the bay.
After exploring the waterfront, we recommend a stop at the Caffè Centrale to enjoy a first course with Tigullio pesto and other classics of Ligurian cuisine with a unique flavour. For the Centrare, we have created a pergola with a retractable, motorised awning. The structure is in a modern style, positioned in Rapallo’s central square, decorated with vases, also by L’Officina dei Giardini.
For a five-star stay, the Excelsior Palace Hotel awaits you: overlooking the bay of Rapallo to the east and the coast of Portofino to the west, it has been a symbol of the dolce vita since the early 1900s. For the Excelsior L’Officina dei Giardini built a walkway connecting the hotel to the spa and the beach. The structure is made of solid section steel with a blind cover.
Santa Margherita Ligure
Continuing the journey, you arrive in elegant and sophisticated Santa Margherita Ligure, famous for its historic villas and lush gardens. Along the picturesque Passeggiata Regina Margherita, discover the architecture of Villa Durazzo, a 17th century palace set in a park that offers unforgettable views of the sea. While sipping a fresh, aromatic Vermentino, you will choose where to stay: here, L’Officina dei Giardini has intervened in two excellent locations.
At the Excelsior Palace, formerly the Lido Palace, a recent acquisition of the Excelsior Group, we have installed a winter garden in steel with thermal break, with a rectangular plan, leaning against a low wall and a four-pitch roof with a glazed lantern.
At the Hotel Continental, nestled among sturdy holm oaks, leafy palms and centuries-old pines, on the summit of a verdant promontory overlooking the sea, we have created a thermally broken steel winter garden with a rectangular ground plan and a roof with two pitches of varying inclination. On the vertical walls there are glazing bars made of metal saucer and placed on the outside and base panels with decoration
Portofino
Grand finale in Portofino, an enchanted village that represents the essence of Ligurian beauty and exclusivity. Explore the Piazzetta, the beating heart of the village, and be enchanted by the bright colours of the houses reflected in the crystal-clear waters of the harbour.
Here, too, L’Officina dei Giardini is the protagonist of high-level hotellerie. In fact, Hotel Splendido Belmond awaits you with its six-bay pergola bar, with hexagonal capital poles and custom-designed moulding. The structure has a covering system consisting of an outer layer of motorised roller blinds and a second inner layer consisting of a system of motorised packet blinds with custom-made fabric.
A fish lunch by the sea, transported by the scents and flavours of the Riviera, is the simplest and most genuine way to end your tour in the timeless charm of Liguria. We look forward to your next trip!
Copy @robertavozza
Foto @lofficinadeigiardini @emanuelebasile @mariabruni
