Projects
The association for Monte di Portofino onlus, commisioned and financed the department of Sciences for architecture of the Univeristy of Genova, a study of ‘archeologia dell’elevato’ was carried out before the restoration, where the history of the location was documented. We discovered how the site and the medieval Church, were merged into the Baratta’s family estate (1848). The property was then used by the family as a holiday home where they kept the historical traits of the building alive. This included the affrescos that decorated the facade, that are still present today. The study was carried out by the architect Anna Boato and her collaborators in two phases:
– the first phase was very tecnical, dedicated to the archealogical and archaeometry analysis of the study, it can be found at Eremo di Sant’Antonio in Niasca.
– The second phase was dedicated to the analysis of the bibliography and archives.
> Ricerca Storico-archeologica Eremo Sant’Antonio di Niasca 2005-small
> Ricerca biblio-archivistica sull’Eremo di Sant’Antonio
In the middle ages, this territory, on Mount Athos of liguria, monks, clerics, hermits, pelgrims found a spiritual haven and built monasteries, churches, chapels and hermitages there.
The association ‘il Monte di Portofino onlus’ financed and coordinated the book ‘Sentieri sacri sul monte di Portofino’ silvana edition, that captures the monastic settlement in the promontory in 1300.
The book is available and on sale in the Eremo di Sant’Antonio in Niasca or following the link:
https://www.silvanaeditoriale.it/libro/9788836619139
For lovers of the territory it offers a source of unexpected and interesting information on its history and the particolar morphological characteristics of the place: two aspects that are tightly connected.
All information can be found at:
For hiking tours download the geographical guide on:
Online guide for iphone on the App Store
> Portofino OnMyWay
Online guide for Android phones on the Play Store
> Portofino-On foot
The fencing of the properties on the hills on the Monte of Portofino on one hand protects the land from wild boars but on the other hand restricts the resting areas that are accessible to the public. In 2009, the association, which is very supportive of local hiking, partnered with Parco of Portofino to reorganize the resting area of Pietre Strette. This resting area has a beautiful view, tables and seating area that can also be enjoyed during winter time. The area is free entrance and is located close by the Mulino del Gassetta.
There are loopholes in the system and supervision from local authorities is not always possible. For example the terms of ‘silent consent’ may apply when applications are submitted before the holidays with the intent of avoiding examination.
The new law in Liguria (22/12/2015 n. 22) the “house plan”, was implemented on 7/1/2016 with the objective to relaunch construction and development of the urban-landscape. This law would allow properties in the region of Liguria including the Park of Portofino to change the intended use of the building. This would open the possibility of transforming all agricultural shacks into villas resulting in an unprecedented urban expansion. Today the Portofino Park regulations are not allowing it to happen. However, there is uncertainty that this might change in the future. There are some cases gathered by the Association, that can found below.
Unfortunately the presence of wild boars has made it mandatory for property owners to fence areas to protect terraces and crops, losing the beauty of the continuous beautiful countryside. Orchard fences are strictly regulated: chestnut poles are driven directly into the ground, with a 10 x10 net to allow small animals to pass through. These rules are often disregarded and give a sense of generalized untidiness even in the rich locations.
It was an occasion to enjoy music in an informal setting while appreciating the sunset. In collaboration with the Municipality of Santa Margherita, the Associazione ‘Per il Monte di Portofino onlus’ organized concerts where one can be immersed in nature, and appreciate the land near the Gassetta mill. These events were open to the public.
The ‘trail of animals’ is a circular route, 2.5 km long, which starts from Nozarego on the hills of Santa Margherita Ligure. It has been given this name because along the route there are life-size statues carved in wood of local animals such as a fox, squirrel, stone marten, wild boar, peregrine falcon, frog, lizard, etc. From Nozarego through the olive and fig trees, the partially paved uphill trail will take you 10 minutes to reach the yellow chapel of the Gave, dedicated to San Girolamo. Following the signs for Monte Croce di Nozarego, the uphill part of the trail begins in the woods where the animal statues are partially camouflaged because they blend in with the environment (inside a cavity, on top of a tree, among the bushes, etc). The route is very suitable for families and children, although it is short; it offers a many different natural environments.
In the promontory of Portofino, plant biodiversity is very prosperous. It is estimated that around one million species will disappear at a speed of hundreds to thousands of times higher than that of the natural rate of extinction. The main cause of this unique phenomenon is due to the direct (human activity such as urbanization and intensive agriculture) or indirect (global climate change) anthropic pressure. Like all plants, orchids suffer the deleterious effects of these pressures. We enthusiastically took part in the European project “Life-Natura 2000” aimed at protecting these wild orchids. The monte is characterised by a particularly intact natural habitat, a key component for the growth of these flowers. This area is known as the “Guardians of micro reserves of wild orchids” in Portofino.
We have worked with:
Università degli studi di Torino,
Legambiente Lombardia,
Parco Portofino,
Università degli studi di Genova
Area protetta Vercellese-alessandrino,
CREA (Consiglio per la ricerca e l’analisi dell’economia agraria).
for more information
https://www.lifeorchids.eu/
Data collected from the last 100 years depicts an increase in short but intense rain events with consequent flash floods, which, due to the steepness of Liguria, generate disastrous landslides. The tender awarded by the Portofino Park to the Associazione, aims to reduce the hydro-meteorological risk by collecting data, enhancing and exploiting NBS (Nature-based Solutions) in rural and natural areas. RECONECT wants to combine hydro-meteorological risk reduction with local development objectives in a sustainable and financially feasible way.
http://www.reconect.eu/about-reconect/
The terraces composed of “dry stone walls”, in addition to recovering the arable surface and better preserving the soil, have a fundamental hydro geological function. They slow down the sudden and abundant rains. The steep lands pertaining to the Eremo of Sant’Antonio di Niasca are terraced with ancient dry stone walls. Nowadays they are in an advanced state of decay and in some cases have completely disappeared. With the objective of promoting the traditional technique of dry stonewalls, we designed a restoration of the terraces of the Eremo. The aim was to generate an experimental model of exploitation of the water resource through their drainage capacity. Thanks to the help of the Association for the Monte di Portofino, the PNRR project awarded 80% of the expenses for the renovation of the Eremo of Niasca.
Crofunding “Muretti a secco” on sostieni.link/33481