Every Whitsun sees the historical ‘Ra Barca’ (‘the Boat’) festival taking place in Bajardo, which, with it’s flamboyant costumes, live music and presentation of local products, has become a tourist attraction.

For this occasion, a c. 80 feet (24m) high forest pine is felled. The raising of the pine trunk on the village square signals the opening of the ‘Ra Barca’ festival. On the church square, dancers dance around the trunk to an old, melancholy ballad and sing “La barca du mei amure”, which means “The Boat of my Love” and tells a tragic love story.

The following day, the trunk, a symbol of luck and love, is put up for sale in a charity auction. The trunk is much sought-after for use in construction.
The festival came into being as a result of a probably true story of Bajardo from the time of Italy’s great maritime republics. Ancient written sources mention the wood of Bajardo for its excellent qualities for the building of boats.
It is said that once, the local count, ‘Count Rubino’ of Pisa, ran a flourishing trade in timber from the forests of Toraggio, Bignone and the Monte Ceppo valley. Three dignitaries, who were in Bajardo in order to check loading of timber, fell in love with the count’s three daughters. When their father found out about this, the youngest daughter, Angelina, decided to flee with her lover. The couple met each other in the night on the road that is today known as the ‘Viale degli Innamorati’, or ‘The Lovers’ Path’. The count found out about their plan and pursued the couple with a sword up to the Ghimbegna Pass, where he beheaded his daughter.

May 27, 2012 15:00 h
Piazza del Sonnaz, 18031 Bajardo

Photos by © Tim Jokl / Flickr

The album “Alan Lomax – Italian Treasury, Liguria: Polyphony of Ceriana: Baiardo and Imperia” (recorded in 1954 by Alan Lomax produced by Rounder) includes the song “a barca”. You can find this track at iTunes, Rhapsody and Amazon.