Vezzano Ligure
The village is divided into upper and lower Vezzano, separated slightly from each other. They lie one on the tops and one on the crest of a hill, from where you can enjoy a 360-degree panorama of the Val di Vara, the Val di Magra and a glimpse of the Gulf of La Spezia.
The first document that mentions the country is dated 963, when Otto I assigned Vezzano to the domain of the Bishop of Luni, but where the Ligurians were already settled. In 1276 the area came under the control of Genoa, and in the sixteenth century Vezzano developed rapidly thanks to the passage of commercial traffic of the Venetian Republic in the valleys below.
Today Vezzano is predominantly a rural village that well-preserved its medieval appearance and attracts many tourists, thanks to the diversified agricultural production, which leads to the best dishes of Ligurian cuisine in the kitchens of houses and restaurants. And don’t forget about the oil from the hills and the wine that accompanies every meal.
The “Palio dei Rioni” and the Feast of grape and wine
Every year in September, for about fifty years, there is the Feast of grapes and wine, along with the “Palio dei Rioni” (Race of the districts) of Vezzano. An event you does not have to miss if you are around, which was created to celebrate the ancient ritual of the harvest. Linked to culinary traditions and territory, the appointment proposes wine and food stands, musical entertainment and exhibitions of old farm tools. Moreover, in the three days of festivities the participants to the “Palio” compete in many kinds of tests, like the dialect duel and the race of the harvesters, to determine which is the winner district.