Sarzana lovely in August - but a delight all year round.

Sarzana has to be one of my favourite towns in the area. The second biggest town in the province after La Spezia itself it has a character all of is own and never ceases to delight. 

Dating from the Roman era, Sarzana is situated at a  strategic location that was a centre of communication at that time near two extremely important ancient roads, the Via Aurelia, and the Via Romea. Home to the Bishops of Luni, it was fortified in the middle ages when a wall was constructed around it. Subsequently it became part of the Republic of Genoa in 1748, then part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and finally part of the Kingdom of Italy. Sarzana began to flourish during the Renaissance and today has grown into a modern metropolis with the old town at its centre. Sarzana has a number of fine palaces and churches and in addition two fortresses!

Today Sarzana is known for its antiques and in the old centre are numerous antique shops. In addition to this the old town is tranfsormed during august into a veritable bazaar with all the historic centre full of antique stalls selling their wares from six in the evening until around midnight.Something not to be missed.The town has a real buzz.

A visit during an August evening can combine a stroll around the old town , an aperitivo in one of the bars,  window shopping for antiques and a meal in any one of many great restaurants in town. 




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Breakfast anyone?

I know breakfasts in Italy are meant to be only a coffee and croissant, a few rushed minutes on your feet in a bar, but I want Casa Colleverde to be known for its breakfasts.

Breakfast should be a relaxing time and they do say the most important meal of the day, well, so it will be at Casa Colleverde  as we are or will be a bed and breakfast.

So to make breakfast a meal to be remembered I have been practicing  my baking skills.Yesterday it was some soft white rolls and walnut bread, both good. I made some white watermelon jam the other day it was ok but not a favourite. My ginger and lemon marmalade was great but it gave me indigestion; the ginger I like it but it does not like me. My efforts at crepes were passable and I am sure they will get better, as I am sure my waistline will get bigger at this rate.

Tomorrow I am shopping for the ingredients for homemade granola let's see if I can find them all. I think I will draw the line at making homemade croissants though as I do not want to have to get up too early each morning! Cappuccino anyone?

We are opening.... from the 1st July and with maybe a Bapstism.. of fire?

Well... I had a meeting with the builders in the middle of the roof of the garage which will become a meditteranean gravel garden next to the concrete hole which will become the pool and the house without windows and floors which will become the guest accommodation ....I just wanted to say lads we are opening on the 1st of July and I am moving in on the 1st June can any of you think of reason why not ... he said looking around the building site. Ok good.

This is the third such project I have been involved in and I know it all comes together at the last minute, having said that it will be tense and my back and shoulder muscles are already telling me that already.

So we have an opening weekend offer from 1st July 3 nights for euro 100 per night and after that we have a discounted rate for the remainder of our first season.


I look forward to welcoming our first guests with a glass of chilled prosecco!

Ok my architect asked me if he could hold the party for the baptism of his baby here in June, would I be mad to say yes?