Eugi Gufo's siteEugi Gufo

Almost a year after my first visit to Finale Ligure, I returned to the town for another two days. This gave me the opportunity to study the small details that had escaped my eye the previous time.
Finalborgo (the oldest part of the centre) is still a beautiful place inside…

…and outside as well, where it is surrounded by the ancient 15th-century walls.

Not only in the borgo, but throughout the entire town of Finale Ligure, there are countless buildings painted in such a way as to simulate architectural relief. I find this tradition rather strange.

The most interesting caves in the mountains surrounding the town are fenced off, so all that remains is to try to see something from a distance of about 30 metres.

I still have not understood what this support is for…

Urban ashtrays almost all belong to bars and restaurants (fortunately numerous), as if the municipality itself were not particularly interested in keeping the streets clean.

In Finalborgo there is one of the best places to eat that I have ever come across in Italy. It is called Osteria «Ai Quattru Canti», and the address is Via Torcelli 22. I recommend it to everyone. Prices are reasonable. The place is small, however, so it is advisable to book at least a few hours in advance.

Given the strong competition among local bars, it is only natural that each owner is forced to come up with something to attract the attention of passing customers. My attention was caught by this «wind effect» on the outdoor tables.

Another establishment had one of the most beautiful benches I have ever seen made specially for it. I would buy a van just to go and steal it.

Opposite Finale Ligure railway station, a digital/automatic information point for local hotels has been installed. It is even possible to view photos on the screen and make a booking. So far, I have only seen something similar in Sirmione del Garda.

Inside the FS station there are modern and well-designed ticket-stamping machines. I have never encountered them in Lombardy. And how widespread are they in the rest of Italy?

Also for the first time, I saw such a practical public water fountain (technical name?): it is equipped with a structure for resting containers on. Why aren’t they all like this yet?

The rainwater drainage system adopted in the borgo, on the other hand, is not something to be imitated in more modern towns.

In the borgo there is an interesting business: a self-service launderette that also functions as an internet point. It would deserve attention for the mere combination of the two services alone (how exactly is a customer waiting for their laundry meant to be entertained or exploited?), but that was not enough for the owners: they also put up two signs illustrating the services offered.

Outside the borgo we find an open car park belonging to the Croce Verde. (Every time I see or hear the expression «Croce Verde», I cannot help but smile, because in the USSR ambulances marked with a green cross were the ones for animals.)

Old Fiat Pandas are among my favourite cars: they look like miniature off-road vehicles. A specimen painted in this way strikes me as even more attractive.

A promotional trick worth taking into consideration:

I could not tell you which of the two vehicles is protected by this ultra-modern anti-theft system.

A mega litter bin that I had not noticed on my previous visit:

In short, with every visit there is always a great deal to discover in Finale Ligure. In some time—perhaps in a few years—I would not mind returning once again. There are even properties for sale… But no, I still prefer big cities.