Cetta
Cetta
Groups of tiny houses with a variety of names all linked by a narrow road: a wash house here, a tiny church there, a wooden cross, a small fountain: this makes up Cetta. If finding the origins of this small centre is a difficult task then making sense of its houses’ names such as Bacin, Cetta Sottana, Poggio, Patatee, Fundu, Rieli and Chiesa is almost impossible. Let’s rather just discover Cetta, a place which inspires poetic sentiments, without too many other thoughts preoccupying our minds. Unfortunately one cannot meet good old Zaverio any longer; chatting with him while drinking a generous helping of wine, that could not be refused, was a real and unique experience. Our memories of him remain indelible in our minds.
We however do encounter wonderful aromas emanating from one of the houses; perhaps someone has prepared a “pasta”, a local cake but a completely different one from the cakes that can be eaten in towns or are served in restaurants. To enjoy it at its best, one must not talk but rather stare into the vastness, abandoning oneself to pleasant thoughts. The abundance of herbs and good olive oil makes these cakes an authentic delicacy.
We walk past the houses, the hay barns, where once one could hear bleating and barking. Within a short time we reach Picun’s chestnut trees, where for the last few years a country fest has taken place attended by both young and the old alike.
Down below the Grognardo stream flows. After following a windy course through beautiful gorges, over waterfalls and under ancient wooden bridges the stream eventually joins the Argentina river near the Mauta Mill. Further along is the Degnu pond with its stunning waterfall, this area brings to mind the story of the Triora witches as legend says they used to meet here.
Looking up towards the sky, one can see Carmo Langan, which can be reached by following a steep and difficult path that is immersed in nature. The path was recently rediscovered by Enzo Bernardini, during his horse riding journey through “real Liguria”.
