Popes and Sailors

Savonna 43 F sunny and windy

Savona was quite the interesting stop. Costa has obviously adopted the port as home due to the logos, signage and Costa colors imprinted on the cruise terminal. The terminal is large and modern. Costa rolled out a blue carpet and multiple welcome signs in the terminal and on the ship implies Costa considers Savona the true start of the cruise.

Savona is seaside in the upper northwest corner of Italy. 10 degrees colder than our other ports and very windy. But a delightful town to visit. The ship docks right in town and the main draw, the Old Town starts not far from the pier and very walkable.

From the boat you can easily see the entrance to the old town flanked by an old clock tower and a green topped tower dedicated to Pancaldo Leon, the sailor responsible for navigation with Magellan when he circumnavigated the world in 1519.

Christopher Colombus spent his youth in Savona. It is the home to 2 popes - Sixtus IV and his nephew, Julius II. Pope Sixtus IV dedicated a mausoleum to his parents called the Sistine Chapel (in Savona). During his papacy and that of his nephew, the Sistine Chapel in Rome was started and has some design basis on the chapel in Savona.

The Savona chapel was part of a cloister, convent and large church next door. The chapel built in the 1400 was renovated in the 1700s in the Rocco style.

Cloister leading to the entrance of the chapel

The interior of the chapel

Frescos on the ceiling

The central piazza is anchored by a theater

Like many seaside towns, the buildings start at sea level and are built up the mountain side. Savona is ringed by the Apennine Mountains - the snow at the top indicates it was chilly in town.

While a portion of the shops and restaurants were closed due to the winter months, I was able to try Pannisa - small chick pea flour fritters that are fried and sold as take out or street food.

I dont know that Savona ranks high on touristy lists but is certainly an interesting and quaint stop.

Tomorrow is a stop at Marseille. We received information from the ship that political demonstrations can pop up quite quickly in Marseille with a common sense list of what not to do-like avoid political crowds. I am bypassing Marseille and instead opting for a trip to Aix en Provence.

Ciao!