The new song “Aquilia” by Ligurian singer-songwriter Massimo Schiavon is now available on all digital platforms. This piece pays tribute to Laigueglia, the artist’s hometown, and is accompanied by a video showcasing captivating images of this seaside village. Premiered during a concert in October as part of the “Il Salto dell’acciuga” event, the song tells the story of the sciabica, a traditional fishing technique used in the gulf, practiced by the ancestors.
Schiavon emphasizes that the song “draws inspiration from the old maritime traditions of the village,” a place always connected to the sea, which has been “a source of life, hope, and sorrow at the same time.” Fishing families would gather at the top of Capo Mele, at the natural terrace of the Santuario delle Penne, to receive the priest’s blessing on the “coralline” boats and the fishermen, crucial for the community’s sustenance.
The passage takes us on a journey back in time, uncovering the roots of Laigueglia, a place that flourished in the 18th century due to coral fishing and a significant mercantile tradition tied to the sailing ships transporting goods and oil. During that era, Laigueglia boasted the second-largest fleet in Liguria, right after Genoa.
