FeelingGoodWithSofy

Hello everyone😊 in this blog post I write about the marvellous village of Celle Ligure😍!

This hidden gem is located in the province of Savona, in the Liguria region of northwestern Italy. It’s a charming, picturesque coastal town situated on the Italian Riviera, more specifically on the Riviera di Ponente (the western part of the Ligurian coast).

I usually come to Celle at least once a year with my family, and everytime that I come back I feel so lucky and grateful because it’s so wonderful, especially if I come around spring, late summer time! 🙂

Celle Ligure, a gem on the Ligurian coast

Celle Ligure has been recently included as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy (I borghi più belli d’Italia) and that is no wonder! 🙂 With its colourful, (old) houses, historical buildings, narrow winding streets, beautiful beaches, its stunning coastal setting and the overall picturesque, sea atmosphere certainly make it a worthy addition to the list!😍

Picturesque alleys

Celle’s picturesque alleys are a defining characteristic of the village’s charm!😍

Its historic center is characterized by a network of colourful, narrow alleys called carrugi or vicoli, adorned with vibrant buildings that create a lively and appealing atmosphere!

I love wandering through i Vicoli, and admiring the colourful, old houses, small, unique shops, and traditional restaurants along the way! 🙂

The Church of Our Lady of consolation (La Chiesa di Nostra Signora della Consolazione)

One of my favourite, significant, historical buildings in this village is the Church of Our Lady of Consolation!

The current building is the result of a 17th-century trasformation of a pre-existing church named the Church of Santa Maria della Grotta.

While its origins are medieval, the Church was renovated in the 17th century, introducing Baroque architectural elements.

The Church is situated near the Lungomare Colombo, Celle Ligure’s seaside promenade, making it a prominent feature of the townscape.

La focaccia Ligure

La Focaccia Ligure is truly amazing, I think it’s one of the things that you should definitely try one’s in your life! 😍💯 🙂

La Focaccia Ligure, also known as Focaccia Genovese, is a type of flatbread that originates from the Liguria region of Italy, with Genova as its capital. It’s a staple of Ligurian cuisine made with simple yet high-quality ingredients.

Here are the essential components: flour, water, yeast, olive oil, and salt.

The texture of Focaccia Ligure is a key element that sets it apart and contributes significantly to its unique appeal. The signature texture of Ligurian Focaccia comes from its lovely combination of a slightly crisp outside and a soft, airy, and chewy inside.

I enjoy eating fresh focaccia first thing in the morning, especially on the beach! 🙂 My favourite focacceria in Celle Ligure is called Focacceria della Piazza, located at Via Ghiglino, 18.

The focaccerie in Liguria sell also other delights besides from focaccia, such as savoury pies and tarts, stuffed vegetables and other baked goods!

While the basic focaccia is delicious on its own with just olive oil and salt, various traditional toppings are also frequently added, such as: onions, olives, herbs, ham, and cheese.

Other Ligurian delights:

• Trofie alla Genovese: this is a quintessential Ligurian dish, with a delightful combination of uniquely shaped pasta (trofie), Pesto Genovese, pine nuts, boiled potatoes and green beans! One of my favourite places to enjoy a nice plate of trofie al pesto in Celle, is at the restaurant Il Bagatto (Via Aicardi, 63, 17015)!

• La Farinata: this is a simple yet incredibly flavourful flatbread that is a staple of Ligurian cuisine! (See second and third picture down below!) It’s made primarily from chickpea flour, water, and olive oil! La Farinata is one of the things besides from focaccia that you can buy in the Focaccerie Ligure!

• La Panissa: another traditional Ligurian delight is La Panissa! It’s a savoury polenta-like dish made primarily from chickpea flour and water. Unlike polenta, panissa has a smoother consistency and a distinctive pale yellow colour thanks to the chickpea flour!

• I Pansoti: are a type of filled pasta originating from the Genova area. They are similar to ravioli o cappelletti, but typically have a distinctive triangolar form. The key characteristic of Pansoti is their magro filling which traditionally consists of wild, local herbs and cheese. They are truly delicious, especially when they are cooked fresh😍!

Authentic gelato places

I have two favourite gelato places in Celle, Il Gelso Nero and I Giardini di Marzo!

• Il gelso Nero: a really good, artisanal Sicilian gelateria located on Via Consolazione, 47, right close to the Church of Our Lady of Consolation. The gelateria has quite many delicious flavours, and has also vegan, gluten-free options! My favourite ones are their mango, vegan coconut and hazelnut! Another thing that I appreciate about this gelateria is that the staff gives generous scoops of gelato! Isn’t that lovely? :)😍💯

• I Giardini di Marzo: another artisanal gelateria which I totally love is I Giardini di Marzo, situated both in Celle Ligure and in Varazze! In Celle you can find this gelateria at Via Ciambrini, 18. I Giardini di Marzo, has received awards for its amazing gelato, moreover Marco Venturino of I Giardini di Marzo, was ranked as the best gelato artisan in the world in 2022 by the Gelato Festival World Ranking!! My favourite flavours are Bocca di Rosa, made with white chocolate and rose water, and Liguretto made with lemon and basil😍💯!

Promenade along the sea

Lungomare Colombo, Celle Ligure’s seaside promenade is truly wonderful, both during the day and in the evening, and I would recommend you to bring with you a delicious gelato from one of the gelaterie in town, while strolling around! 🙂

This pedestrian walkway offers stunnnig views of the azure sea. There are places to sit along the way, where you can just relax and take in the beauty around you!

Nice restaurants

There are many nice restaurants in Celle, where you can savour a nice fish dish, a pasta dish 😍

Here are a few foodie recommendations:

• Osterian San Bastian: located in Via Generale Pescetto, 20, this cozy Osteria offers mainly fish dishes such as a nice fish soup, or fritto misto, but you can also find some vegeterian alternatives like trofie alla genovese or meat options like coniglio alla Ligure! My family and I usually go here at least once when we visit Celle :)😍

• Bistrot 27: this small bistrot, lounge bar is also really nice. Here you can enjoy a nice, breakfast, lunch, dinner and aperitivo. There are many people in the evening who come to this place to have something to drink, moreover this place often has a DJ playing at full volume all night. It was my first time eating something in this bistrot, the last time I visited Celle, and I really enjoyed it! 🙂 I took pescato frollato alla brace and Cheviche di Gambero Rosso, truly delicious😍! Adress: Piazza del Popolo, 2.

• Il Bagatto: this restaurant is also really good, I have eaten a few times here and I have always been satisfied! one of my absolute favourite dishes here is their trofie alla genovese, a true enjoyment! 😍The swordfish rolls with vegetables are in my opinion another highlight of this place! (See second photo down below.)

• Pescheria Friggitoria Franca Stelin: this nice pescheria is specialized in selling fresh local fish. You can enjoy also a nice luch, dinner here. The fish is excellent😍 and their fritto misto is a 10 out of 10! 🙂 😍💯Make sure to book in time especially during peak season if you would like to eat lunch or dinner here! There are things you can also order and bring away with you, such as the fritto misto! Adress: Via Ciambrini, 28.

Evening sea atmosphere ✨💙

Celle is as stunning as it is in the evening!

It is so beautiful and magical to walk around the illuminated village, grab a gelato along the way and go to the beach and watch the sunset✨

It gives me also calming vibes as the village is small so there are not as many people around as in other sea places!

How to get to Celle Ligure

There are several convenient ways to get to Celle Ligure among which:

• By car: if you live in Northern Italy, quite close to the Ligurian region, driving all the way to Celle could be a comfortable option! My family and I usually take the car and from Milano to Celle, if there aren’t any traffic jams, it takes about two hours long drive to arrive!

• By train: another convenient way is by train! Celle Ligure has its own train station on the Genova-Ventimiglia railway line. You can easily reach Celle by train from major cities in the region including Genova and Savona!

Post not sponsored