LA SPEZIA - ITALY

COMENIUS PROJECT:
INFLUENCES, TRENDS AND CREATIVITY IN THE EUROPEAN COOKING.

WHERE: ISTITUTO PROFESSIONALE DI STATO PER I SERVIZI ALBERGHIERI E DELLA RISTORAZIONE“G.CASINI” La Spezia,
WHEN : 19 / 23 May 2008

WHAT: programme of our stay

19 May Monday
Arrival Hotel del golfo Lerici
Dinner at Hotel del golfo 25 euros.

20 May Tuesday
9.00 Departure from Hotel del golfo to La Spezia IPSSAR G. Casini
9.30 Catering and hospitality college “quick” tour
10.00 Meeting Working on the project
12.30 Lunch Prepared by IPSSAR G. Casini students.
Afternoon Boat tour (military navy boat) Departure from La Spezia to Mussel farming.
Tino and Palmaria islands. Portovenere
and Cinque Terre

21 May Wednesday
9.00 at school. Working on the project
Preparation of a buffet Each school has to prepare 1 dish.
12.30 Lunch
Afternoon 14.30 Wine Cellar Cantinae Lunae
17.00 Visit Sarzana Guided tour of the city center.
19.00 Back to hotel
20.00 To Tellaro. A short walk through the fishing village narrow alleys , an aperitif and a super seafood dinner at Delfino Restaurant

22 May Thursday
9.00 Departure from Hotel del Golfo Lerici to Val di Vara.
Visit Varese Ligure village.
Wine Cellar Cinque Terre.

We will go to the famous Organic Valley.
Tour of the most important farms.
Liguria's Secret Valley
Val di Vara - the Organic Valley

The Val di Vara is a little known part of Liguria which is gaining a reputation for good quality organic food.
This part of Italy is best known for its stunning coastline, the Italian Riviera, the mountain region of the Val di Vara is a part of Liguria that has hardly been explored by tourists. It's an area that is well known in Italy however, as it has a reputation as a 'green' organic valley. The main town is Varese Ligure, once a resort for wealthy Genoese families escaping the heat and mosquitoes of the coast in summer. The whole area is making great efforts to be as green as possible: wind turbines and solar panels provide power, and waste is carefully recycled.
Many farmers in the valley raise their cattle organically, and the butcher's in Varese Ligure often has queues outside. There is also an organic cheese factory and organic yoghurt factory. Small producers in the valley also make honey - the chestnut one is particularly good . In the hill village of Castiglione Chiavarese, you can also find wine and olive oil at the Azienda Agricola Pinogino. The area, with its thick chestnut and beech forests, is also noted for its excellent porcini mushrooms.

20.30 Dinner Prepared by the Evening classes IPSSAR G. Casini Students.

23 May Friday Departure