Gavi: the Fort and the Village

"At Forte di Gavi, on the morning of 30 September of this year, during the first guided tour of the day, a maniple of solders of the ancient Republic of Genoa, disguised as visitors, treacherously occupied the bastion of San Tomaso, also known as "Passaparola". This swift and unexpected action took bystanders by surprise, but the surprise was even greater when, upon removing their civilian clothing, the bright uniforms of the Compagnia della Picca e del Moschetto di Novi Ligure appeared. With an equally sudden gesture – no one knows whence or how – the flag with the colours of the Republic of Genoa (a red cross on a white field) appeared and was boldly hoisted to the top of the bulwark …"

We're joking, of course. Nevertheless, what happened at Forte di Gavi on Sunday, 30 September, seemed to be nothing short of an invasion – albeit a peaceful one – by several hundred visitors, numbers that have not been seen between those ancient walls for ages. It seems that the Fort was assaulted by nearly 800 visitors during the guided tours of the day, and more than 150 spectators attended the concert entitled "Farinelli's Delightful Airs".

The success of this event can be attributed to a synergic effort that saw the selfless contribution of the Amici del Forte di Gavi Association, the Piedmont Superintendence for Architectural Heritage and Landscapes, the Gavi Tourism Board, the Compagnia della Picca e del Moschetto di Novi Ligure and the Municipality of Gavi, which kindly arranged for a shuttle bus between the Fort and Piazza Dante.



Establishing who takes most credit is neither possible nor necessary but, as is commonly said in theatre reviews, "the co-stars were wonderful". However, we must also note the key contribution offered by the Compagnia della Picca e del Moschetto, which was the linchpin of the event. The evening was equally successful thanks to the concert dedicated to "Farinelli's Delightful Airs".


The City of Novara's Baroque Orchestra received such enthusiastic applause that it played two encores. The concert was organised in collaboration with the A. F. Lavagnino International Festival – Music Section (Luciano Girardengo, conductor) and the Libarna Rotary Club.