THE FISH FESTIVAL
During one of the last post I wrote, I promised to talk about some of the many traditions you may encounter in this ancient country that is Italy. Here I am to keep my promise talking about Camogli and its fried fish festival.
Camogli
Camogli is a tiny village in Liguria. A place rich of history and traditions. This is why I want to talk with you about this particular festival.
Camogli is only 20 kilometres away from Genova. There you can dive yourself into an atmosphere of other times. There is a black stony beach, the church and the castle on a cliff over the sea. The houses are much colored like in Luca’s movie and there is a small fishermen port.
THE FESTIVAL ORIGINS
Here, a long time ago, during the year 1952, a group of anglers decided to organize a festival distributing fried fish to villagers and tourists. From this initiative comes the today’s fish festival hold every second Sunday of May.
The giant frying pan
Can you imagine a frying pan of more than 3 tons? It is placed in the center of the square on the harbor, with fishermen that fry incredible quantities of fish.
Not only fried fish
However, this festival is not only fried fish. A well-established tradition wants that on the beach, villagers build up wooden constructions and statues that then are burnt creating big bonfires followed by fireworks.
So, while you are walking on the boardwalk you could run into a Statue of Liberty crushed on the shore or you could see an entire wooden castle ready to burn.
But I must warn you, time ago this festival was known but to a few, nowadays there are thousands persons willing to participate and enjoy the atmosphere. It is so overcrowded that the city council transforms the both ways upper road in a circular one-way one.
In short, yes you can find fish but be ready to face many people, probably too many. Anyway Camogli is a village with many centuries old traditions related with the sea such as the Stella Maris, where it could happen to you to see the entire bay full of floating candle lights. But about this I’ll talk later on.
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