The panoramic road of Capo Noli and the legend of the Lion
Today we are going to tell you about the panoramic road of Capo Noli. The stretch of the Aurelia that connects Noli and Varigotti is one of the most beautiful in Liguria. This road, dug into a cliff overlooking the sea, is full of fascinating views and is also linked to a legend that we will tell you shortly! Inaugurated in 1839, the current Aurelia (State Road No. 1), introduced a new connection to the coastal towns of Ponente. Before the inauguration of the Aurelia, to reach Finale Ligure it was in fact necessary to pass through the Manie plateau. The reason for such a late construction of a coastal connection is mainly linked to two reasons. The first is the obvious construction difficulties in getting past Capo Noli. The second was the presence for centuries of the Marquisate of Finale beyond Capo Noli: the fact of not having comfortable roads hindered, or at least slowed down, the enemy cavalry. In the cover photo you can see a glimpse from above of this stretch of the Aurelia, visible from one of the panoramic points found along the Path of the Pilgrim.
The legend of the Lion
If you notice, along the stretch of Aurelia di Capo Noli you will be able to see a rock that resembles a lion. Legend has it that in the XNUMXst century AD Leo, a sailor from the Maritime Republic of Noli, wanted to travel to Africa to see more closely the specimens whose name he himself bore.
After years of traveling he arrived in Africa, precisely in Morocco. Here he went in search of lions and when he saw them he liked them so much that in the end he decided to take one away with him. Back in Noli the sailor locked the Lion on the heights of Manie. In this way he could call friends and relatives to admire this fantastic specimen.
The lion, however, never stopped roaring for lack of his companion from whom he had been separated, who called him from the beaches of Morocco. One night the lion managed to escape from his cage by pushing himself towards the rocks of Capo Noli, but continued to roar towards the sea. Here a magician, annoyed by the continuous moans of the Lion and his beloved, decided to transform the animal into stone. He remained like this, immortalized overlooking the sea looking towards his home. It is said that even today, on days of windy storms, you can hear the roars of the lioness looking for her companion, from whom she never received an answer.
After years of traveling he arrived in Africa, precisely in Morocco. Here he went in search of lions and when he saw them he liked them so much that in the end he decided to take one away with him. Back in Noli the sailor locked the Lion on the heights of Manie. In this way he could call friends and relatives to admire this fantastic specimen.
