During the summer there are several dances, concerts, markets and other gatherings etc. in most villages in the valley, including Pigna, where the venue is the big square inside the village (Piazza Castello) or the covered area down by the sporting ground.
Most of the coastal towns also offer summer balls and numerous other local festivities – enquire locally or keep an eye out for the posters.
Neighbouring Castelvittorio hosts a music festival (Music festival in Castelvittorio) every summer and this connection the local Pigna Ristorante Terme will often have a number of evenings with a jazz orchestra playing on the front porch to the delight of guests dining in as well as outside of the restaurant. In fact the restaurant (https://www.ristoranteterme.com/) remains the only Michelin Bib Gourmand appraised in the entire valley.
San Michele
The patron saint of Pigna is San Michele and the annual celebration is taken serious by the local community. During a late September weekend you can experience Wholy Mass at the main church (San Michele at the top of the village) and procession through the small narrow streets (carugi) of the village. On the Saturday night dining, wining and dancing is truly culmination of these authentic celebrations.
Raviolata di San Tiberio
Early October Pigna will have a ravioli party in the covered area by the sporting ground. You’re served raviolis filled with delicious stuffings – all hand made by the locals. With an orchestra present, the occasion also offers a chance to dance.
La Sagra delle Caldarroste in Buggio
Every autumn Buggio village throw a well-visited and truly authentic gathering to celebrate and taste the chestnut harvest.
The setting is very picturesque right at the main square in Buggio with locally produced wine and other beverages to rinse down the chestnuts. The chestnut tree represent a large part of the deciduous trees lining the lower part of the mountains. Hence for years chestnuts were part of local nutritional traditions (roasted and grinded to flour).
Bonus info: Bring wet wipes – your fingers get messy and by all means do catch the shuttle bus from Pigna since parking in Buggio can be a nightmare on occasions like these!
Sagra del Fungo
Depending on the availability of all sorts of edible fungi, one of the city’s numerous festivals is the celebration of the mushroom harvest, and in the picture are presented the collected varieties (including toxic ones!). This fungi festival attracts a large number of foodies from near and far who come and enjoy these local, delicious mushrooms. Naturally, they’re washed down with the local wine.
Festa della lavanda
During late July / early August a celebration of the lavender harvest takes place (they are growing a locally adapted Ligurian species called: officinalis “Imperia”). You can taste and smell your way through various products based on lavender and importantly get to know the dedicated producers of this niche product from the area. During the day there will usually be live distillations showing how this essential oil is produced.
The Club Alpine Italiano (CAI)
Several local CAIs operate in Val Nervia (Ventimiglia, Bordighera and San Remo). The main website is https://www.cai.it/ where you can learn much more about their background and activities. Amongst numerous mountain excursions one includes a Wholy Mass conducted on-site in the mountains followed by a picnic usually attended by a large gathering of locals and tourists alike all sharing a passion for the wonderful nature and outdoor life.
Other activities and events
Guided trekking tours can often be arranged with locals knowing their way around the beautiful mountainous landscape. The whole estern Ligurian area of Val Roya, Valle Nervia and Valle Argentina offers several car excursions, bicycle and hiking treks in a magnificent and varied nature of disparate cultural and natural landscapes. If cycling really is a passion the whole system of valleys offer some absolutely splendid and sometimes challenging trips bringing you across several valleys and by stretches along the coast as well.
It is also possible to engage a local lady who will conduct a cooking school teaching participants knowledge and skills used for generations in preparing the delicious local stable of food. It goes without saying, that at the end of the session a joint meal is enjoyed (usually you will need to stay somewhere equipped with a kitchen).
If at Pigna during Easter one must go and see or even better follow the procession through the village (don’t have to attend Holy Mass). Lots of locals from the village and from outside join this event, where a Jesus Christ statue is carried around with the local vicar behind and the congregation singing psalms.