Horse Riding in the Bosco degli Angeli: A Weekend in Cisano Sul Neva – Part II

Past and present live together in harmony in this house: our apartment is so comfortable that we could live in it for a longer period too. Bright and elegant, where a pleasantly rustic-inspired style is combined with up-to-date comfort: we even have wi-fi, as well as satellite TV and air conditioning. Each apartment has a convenient kitchen, where we can prepare all the treats we like using the farm's fresh vegetables. After the trips, in the evening it is a pleasure to sit on the little terrace of our apartment sipping a good local sparkling white wine, nibbling a few Taggiasca olives. For larger groups, on the other hand, the large terrace is ideal, overlooking the pool, the surrounding mountains and the olive groves whose pastel green gently embraces the whole house.

After settling into the apartment, we have a chat with the owners, accompanying the stories of times gone by with a tasting of delicacies produced by the farm such as Taggiasca olives, cheeses and salami in oil, which we enjoy with crunchy focaccia and a few glasses of excellent local wine. This is how we also discover the origin of the agriturismo's name. “We were looking for a name a bit different from the usual ones, and since my name is Angelo, our architect had suggested the name Gli Angeli, which we liked straight away also because it is easy to remember and to translate into other languages, which matters since many of our guests come from abroad”, recalls Mr Angelo. The authentic flavours of the tasting carry us into the past, evoking the time when the henhouse stood where today's apartments are, and every day a basket of feed hung on a rope was lowered among the hens.

During the night the birds stayed inside, but in the morning they were happy to run outside, into the olive grove. “At the time our oil mill was a bit far away, and there was the idea of moving it in here. We had even already created the space to place it, but then, for one reason or another, nothing came of it. We then turned that storehouse into two studios”, the owner tells us. The ancient tradition of oil production continues to this day and the result of the process, which is carried out exclusively with mechanical methods, is an excellent extra virgin olive oil with a fruity, sweet taste. Walking on the farm's land is also a very pleasant sensory experience: besides the olive trees, a great many aromatic plants are grown, mainly rosemary, sage, thyme and marjoram, but we can also admire very fragrant little lavender plants and potted roses.

Our days at the agriturismo pass by alternating trips to nearby seaside towns such as Albenga and Alassio with moments of absolute relaxation by the pool, and revitalising walks in the nearby Bosco degli Angeli. If it happens that we cannot bring our dog with us, no problem: there is a little courtyard created especially for him, from which, if we are at the pool, he can even see and hear us. Arriving in the Bosco degli Angeli we almost feel we can truly perceive the presence of the angels. Centuries ago the wood belonged to the Marquises Del Carretto and it has returned to its ancient splendour thanks to the tireless work of Mr Angelo and his family, who never stopped tearing out brambles and clearing the undergrowth until this beautiful place of peace was created.

Here the walk along the paths turns into a walk among our thoughts, which step by step wonderfully become clearer, the knots untangle and, even if you set off with a soul full of tangled brambles, you come back serene and with a smile on your face. The fantastic horses waiting for us in a stable you can visit also help to create the harmony and good mood of those who visit the Bosco degli Angeli. Children can learn to ride with the help of Fabio, an expert instructor and equestrian tourism guide, while more experienced riders can take a trek along the paths admiring the breathtaking panoramic view that opens out over the sea from these heights. After the rides you cannot do without a well-earned dinner, which we can prepare using the large barbecue set up in the wood. Inside the shelter we have every comfort, from the bathrooms to the covered terrace where we can sit down to eat.

We also get the chance to take part in an apericena organised by the agriturismo, with lots of typical treats, from omelettes to the cakes prepared by the very talented Mrs Celina, whose treats also delight us at the agriturismo. At other times they also organise a barbecue for the guests, to enjoy lovely summer grills in the cool among the trees. At the end of our holiday we certainly do not miss the chance to take home the flavour of this magical land, bottled in a few bottles of “angelic” oil, and we return to the city refreshed in body and spirit, intending to come back soon to this fairy-tale place for new trips and exciting rides.

Francesca Bertha

FOR INFORMATION:

Agriturismo Gli Angeli Via Moglia, 11 Cenesi, fraz. di Cisano Sul Neva (SV) Tel.: 0182/20706