Good places to live in = great places to visit

Cycling friendly hills, exploring hospitable courtyards, moonwatching from  romantic castle ramparts – just one unhurried Romagna weekend

As  Saturday was International Moon Observation night , it was natural that the local historic castle, sitting on the highest vantage point, would become involved.

And in true Romagnolo fashion – the event had to be celebrated in all its aspects. Local astronomers came along to set up three high-powered telescopes (one projecting on to the castle wall). Local food and wine had to be offered including of course the baking of hundreds of a dozen different sorts of delicious Moon cookies, with local jam and chocolate, spices and herbs.

And, of course, the castle with its fabulous art collection. Possibly the best collection of contemporary art in the province, it includes not only great Italian artists such as Morandi and Maccari but also works by Chagall, Kokoschka, Matisse. Opened to all for the evening moonwatching – with one big plus.

In the great hall an astrophysicist was holding court – rapt kids and adults were listening to his explanations about the moon whilst nibbling their biscuits.

Outside little queues were forming behind the telescopes on offer  (and the buffet, of course!) as local families and tourists took their turns to see the moon, have a little refreshment and see the moon again – maybe then taking a walk around the romantic castle ramparts and see the extraordinary views all around.

It’s no wonder that the castle has been extant for over a thousand years or that the local community are so proud of it.

And finally, their village on a video. Longiano was to be at the Expo in Milan along with other beautiful Italian villages and this was to be their video – shown on moonwatching night on the castle walls. SEE IT HERE

The next day Longiano is ‘In Festa’ and today the reason for the festa is…  X2 GOOD. A charity cycling event which explores the local hills and pits mixed doubles (Boys and girls, men and women) against each other in a friendly colourful 13km challenge – starting and finishing in Longiano’s main square to great applause from the massed locals.

Of course dozens of local helpers with flags had settled in the hills around to help the flow of traffic.

And the announcer, on the plinth, welcomes each pair and helps the crowd give them a rip-roaring, colourful, noisy send-off.

The mixed route sees each pair of cyclists leave the platform, take a short climb, followed by a long descent, then through the plain with the final ascent to the hill of Longiano.

And, of course it’s not just the race. Other events are lined up all around – and naturally there is an opportunity to taste the wine and the glorious fruit grown on Longiano’s fertile hill.

After the race, it’s worth popping along to the art-city of Cesena a few kilometers away to take part in a delightfully serene experience.

Like Longiano, Cesena is  Malatesta family city – they owned the castle in Longiano and their citadel in Cesena for a few hundred years back in the middle ages.

Plus they established possibly the world’s earliest lending library. It’s still there, and around it is a warren of lovely old palaces with leafy courtyards.

In Cortile (in Courtyard) is a day when everybody can explore a dozen of these courtyards. And it’s not just a visit.

Perforances are lined up as each courtyard competes with the others to offer visitors interesting experiences. In some courtyards, stories are told, in some, there are sound performances, in another you can try old typewriters, in another there’s a ‘Garden of Connections’, another hosts a ‘Soup of Stones, yet another has a photographic museum, in another the films of Buster Keaton.

Everybody’s enjoying themselves. You just collect your free map, free brochure and a nourishing gift and wander happily from delightful courtyard to delightful courtyard.

As the community says "The star of the festival is the courtyard, the repository of childhood memories that resurface at times like a personal archive of memories, feelings and dreams shaped by time. It is a space full of stories and mysteries waiting to be discovered through the power of imagination."

"The festival is meant as a dedication to meeting and exchange, inviting us to open our eyes to the beauty of the city of Cesena and the poetry of the everyday people who live here."

If there’s a better way to spend a warm Sunday afternoon, the residents of Cesena don’t know it. 

As they say it’s  "small tale of good practice for living together, with the collaboration of Paul Ugolini, Gaia Zappi, Cristina Navacchia and the participation of some of the inhabitants of Via Sacchi, via Uberti and via Montalti.

Within a distance of 10 km on one weekend, there were three delightful free events, created by local communities for local people. Visitors welcome.

The key to sustainable tourism – places that are good to live in are great to visit.

Nowhere is this more true than in Romagna.

Thinking about a really different destination? Walking, cycling, cooking, festivals – groups and FIT service for Romagna available at [email protected]

More information on Romagna at http://www.BestofRomagna.com and at http://www.Facebook.com/BestofRomagna

And there’s more about this fabulous destination:
Europe’s Best Kept Secret Foodie Holiday Spot Romagna becomes first Italian truly green tourism destination Put the Christmas back into Christmas.  Follow the Christmas star…   Discover the Heart of Italy   – Fireflies, Cherries and Soaring Hills – Tourism attraction from scrap  Romagna – Very Hot Metal   – Dancing in the Piazza  – Meet Romagna’s Cast    – Mayday Mayday – Romagna’s got it covered  – Kite festival   – Green and very pleasant land gets even greener

Valere Tjolle

New pre-release offer at http://www.SustainableTourism2015.com