Swimming in the sea in winter? The right place is there Bay of Silence to Sestri Levante, in Liguria, a strip of sand and crystal clear sea, protected by the promontory of Punta Manara and colored behind it by the typical Ligurian houses. A local paradise that the municipality has decided to preserve by regulating and limiting access to the Baywith limited numbers from 8am to 5pm.
And to deseasonalize access to the bay and try to give a positive meaning to dramatic climate changes, the project was born Swimming in the Baypromoted by local associations Aquamanara 1968 And Shock Wave Sports. In fact, a route is being set up that can make the Baia del Silenzio equipped for the free swimming even in winterfrom October to May, with the locker rooms at the Naval League section. of Sestri Levante and one catwalk on the beach to ensure accessibility to people with reduced mobility. «In the month of February there were incredibly mild days – commented Giuseppe Adorni of Aquamanara 1968 – with the water temperature that touched the 14.5 C°».
In addition to promoting the sport and giving people the opportunity to get used to the idea of swimming in open water even in colder temperatures (equipped of course!), the aim is to deseasonalize tourism to make it even more sustainable and inclusivein an area that is saturated and abused for several months of the year.
The tradition of winter swimming
«The Bay of Silence or Portobello Bay has long been frequented by numerous swimming enthusiasts in the period October – May, because the conditions are always found to be able to swim in safety; there water temperature it remains decidedly higher than the open sea; and because in its depths we find Posidonia forests, which show us the good quality of the marine environment.” For those who are habitual and more sporty, the meetings take place more or less regularly, monthly, on Sundays: “we meet for half-hour or one-hour workoutsdepending on external weather conditions and water temperature”.
Sports events
Fixed appointments? «Once the summer season has passed, enthusiasts meet in October (Saturday 12th) in the Baia delle Favole for a classic sea swimming event, the Crossing of Friendship, on the original route from Cavi Borgo to Sestri Levante of 2500 m, as it was held in 1975, when sea swimming was not yet recognized as a discipline at federal level. On the same day in the afternoon we take part in the open water swimming competition Sant'Anna Swim, of 4000m, which closes the event with the ritual awards. Also in October (from the 18th to the 20th this year) the Italian Ocean Racing Championship International Surf Ski competition, organized by the Shock Wave Sports association in collaboration with the Italian Canoe-Kayak federation”. For those who just want to swim, they can do so in the bay 7 days a week, contacting Aquamanara 1968 to receive all the necessary information and assistance.
Attention to the environment
Sustainability is one of the key words of the Swimming in the Bay proposal, so much so that in addition to purely sporting events, moments are organized to place theattention to the environment and respect for natural resources. In fact, several meetings will focus precisely on individual and collective responsibility in safeguarding the marine environment, as for example to demonstrate pollution caused by some chemical compounds present in sun creams which, released into the water, are causing very serious damage that is now recognized. “The damage that chemical elements released into the sea can cause, perhaps even greater than microplastics, on the growth of muscles, limpets, and sea urchins are now known but little disclosed” explains Adorni. “The presence of healthy Posidonia forests, which extends from the seabed of the Baia del Silenzio towards the deeper waters of Punta Manara, is a clear sign of the good quality of the waters where you swim; but it is very important prevent and raise awareness citizens”.
What to see in Sestri Levante
Sestri Levante, also called la City of the two seas, looks like a strip of land on the sea, made up of typical Ligurian houses, very colorful close to the crystalline sea, and the central and nerve center. There are two splendid bays that bathe it: the Bay of Silence and the Fairytale Bay. Palazzo Fascie it is the beating heart of the city's culture, and collects its history, memory and culture. The Palace houses the Musel – Archaeological and City Museum of Sestri Levante, the Historical Archive, the library and on the ground floor the IAT, the city's tourist information office. The MuSel it is located on the third and fourth and was created with the aim of preserving and enhancing the memory and identity of the territory with an innovative and exciting setup.
The itineraries
Sestri Levante can be excellent start point for those who love it nature or to explore the splendid Ligurian coast. There are many possible itineraries, especially out of season, in spring and autumn: long walks on foot immersed in nature; or in bicycle, to discover the coast and its characteristic colorful villages on easy routes for all ages. For the more sporty, itineraries are proposed trekking longer and for lovers of MTB a series of paths overlooking the sea are marked. Not to be missed are the nearby Cinque Terre and Framura; Monte di Portofino, or the beautiful Alta Via dei Monti Liguri. On the site in Sestri Levante all the options are marked, according to difficulty and time available.
What to eat
Liguria on the plate is pesto, focaccia and farinata; but not only. There are the savory pies originally filled with simple things from the garden, sometimes combined with rice. One of the best known is the cake Pasqualina, filled with chard, ricotta and eggs: typical of the Easter period, as the name suggests, and ideal for picnics and the beach. A traditional dish of the area is the Anchovy bathto which one is dedicated festival in the month of July. Anchovy soup was born from the need to offer sailors an easy recipe during the period of long navigation, and was prepared directly on the boats as a substantial breakfast.
The events of Sestri Levante
Sestri Levante is a pleasant destination all year round, and you can also get there comfortably by train: just pay attention to the seasonal closures, because not all accommodation facilities are open in the winter months (a point to work on with the aim of real deseasonalisation). A very special time to visit us is, in the month of June, on the occasion of Andersen Prize, the literary competition that has been taking place since 1967 and dedicated to children's literature, in particular unpublished fairy tales. In summer, the Barcarolle it is a parade on the sea, organized by the Municipality of Sestri Levante and the Naval League: tourists and people from Sestri compete in decorating boats and boats with papier-mâché, multicolored lights and carnival costumes. At the end, a large fireworks display multiplies the charm of the sea at night.
Incredibly dynamic too musical panorama which develops around the two bays and the territory of Sestri: already well known is the Mojotic Festival, which offers over 100 events in fifteen different spaces including clubs, theatres, bays, beaches, convents, bowling alleys, clubs, squares, courtyards and even balconies. The Mojotic Cultural Association itself organizes the very special event Shhh!, the Silent Disco in Baia del Silenzioone of the most anticipated events in the Ligurian summers which sees a crowd of people dancing barefoot on the beach in total silence (or almost).
Source: Vanity Fair
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