Located at the border between Liguria, Tuscany and Emilia-Romagna, the little town has a medieval core enmeshed in the hills of the hinterland of La Spezia, that make it the natural pendant of Lerici and Portovenere.

Obviously as beautiful as only a medieval village can be, Sarzana shines in August with its traditional antique exhibition called “The street attic”, this year on stage from 8th to 23rd August. Walking around in the old streets you can find any kind of object, for collectors and fans (even Gianni Versace loved the market of antique), ranging from vintage furnishing to lithography, from unobtainable books to jewellery.

Besides the main square, where a plate reminds that the village was governed by Guido Cavalcanti, master of the dolce stil novo, and that Dante Alighieri took refuge here from his exile, there is a set of little streets leading to the most representative places of Sarzana, among art galleries dedicated to contemporary art, as the Cardelli & Fontana Gallery, antique shops and tea rooms.

The most evocative is the Patisserie Gemmi, founded in the Napoleonic age and wonderful venue where to taste old home made recipes under a vault full of frescoes, wooden furnishing and big mirrors. In the summer you can enjoy the overarching Il Loggiato, fantastic terrace obtained from the rooms of an old convent of the Sixteenth Century. Here are held tasting and cultural events, excellent tea and cannoli, but also art exhibitions, book exhibitions, debates, a literary award and concerts, enjoying from above he view of the village alive with tourists.

Going on through the “Attic” you reach the Cathedral of Sarzana, famous for preserving in the left apse chapel the most ancient Italian painted cross, the Crucifix of Maestro Guglielmo (1138), and a terracotta of the school of Luca Della Robbia.
A curiosity: on the left side of the façade rose window a careful eye can notice a sward that, according to the legend, is the proof of a battle between armed men to forbid the wedding of a lady.

But love and art taste are part of the genius loci that, after 30 years of tradition, the Associazione Antiquari Sarzanesi, with the contribution of Regione Liguria and of Banca di Credito Cooperativo has selected 50 exhibitors for the 30th Edition of National Antique Exhibition. As for the Attic, the exhibition as well will take place from 8th to 23rd August, from 6pm to 12am, to fully enjoy the atmosphere of the village.

Higjlight of a day in Sarzana is the Fortress of Sarzanello. Built in 1249 thanks to the help of the allied Maritime republic of Pisa, many changes have been made around 80 years later by Castruccio Castracani to be afterwards destroyed and then reconstructed by Lorenzo de’ Medici with the help of the best military architects of Florence, like Giuliano da Sangallo. It is open only on special occasions, like the Festival of the Mind in September, the First European festival dedicated to creativity.

www.sarzanaantiquariato.it
www.festivaldellamente.it

Italian version

Sport is part of the DNA of this collection, carrying the name of the popular Swedish tennis player. The items fit as a second skin thanks to the use of natural fresh and resistant textiles. As Borg, champion become an icon of a pop and extravagant life style, they have an unconventional soul: they bring color and joy in a traditionally monochromatic market, suggesting a new model of seduction young, fresh and always in line with the new tendencies in terms of fashion and clothing.

The collection is dedicated to whom doesn’t like to go unnoticed and is conscious of his/her charm without, at the same token, taking themselves too seriously.

At the present time the products of the collection Bjorn Borg can be purchased in about twenty multi-brand stores in Veneto, Emilia Romagna and Tuscany, but their diffusion is destined to increase in the summer arriving to Milan and other cities of Lombardy.

Bjorn Borg underwear is a brand distributed exclusively by Regina Regis Ltd of Quinto di Treviso.

Italian version

Optimism is the keyword of this edition, supported by the fact that the grape harvest of the past autumn season brought Italy back to the top position on the ranking list of world wine producers, thanks to a production equal to 45 million hectolitres, and that exports of spumante to the United States reported a 2% growth.

Interesting, for wine, is also the challenge faced on emerging markets. The outcome of the Vinitaly World Tour, organized in collaboration with Buonitalia, show a significant growth of the business of wine made in Italy, especially in Korea to which Italy’s exports reached record levels: +48% in 2008, +700% in the last five years.

Among the most awaited events of the exhibition there is: the 150 years of GAJA, the standard-bearer of the “Italian Wine Renaissance”, celebrated at Vinitaly with a  grand wine tasting, on Saturday April 4, in company with Jancis Robinson, famous British wine reporter, wine writer, author of very famous tv programs, who will liven-up the debate and a tasting of wines directly selected from the winery such as Gaia&Rey 1994, Darmagi 1997, Conteisa 1996, Sperss 1989, Sorì San Lorenzo 1988 and Barbaresco 1964.

Rather heated will be the rebate regarding the decision of the European Union to allow the creation of rosé wines simply by blending white and red wines; decision that, so far, hasn’t really gained the backup of either French winemakers – in fact the great majority of rosé wines is produced in France – or the Italian ones that fear for the quality of products.

While waiting to see what are the new ideas of the different Regions of Italy, in the contest of multiple diversities that make our country a unique one worldwide, the 2009 Vinitaly international wine competition, created out of the collaboration between Veronafiere and Winenews, awarded the most of medals to Veneto. The rest of the podium is completed by Emilia-Romagna, boasting 12 awards, and Sicily, boasting 10.

Italian version