PRESS RELEASE (14/08/2015)
Saturday, August 15, a Loano, to the 9:15 pm, will take place the “procession of lighted boats”, organized by the Brotherhood of the Blue Hats with the collaboration of the’Department of Tourism, Culture and Sports of the City of Loano, of the’Local Maritime Office, de The Navy of Loano, of the Marine Baths Union.
The initiative, revives an ancient tradition, which has its roots in Loano's seafaring culture. The illumination of the sea and the procession of illuminated boats originated, in the early 20th century. The fishermen and sailors of Loano thus paid homage to the Our Lady of the Visitation, patroness of the sea and sailors.
This year, due to technical reasons, the lanterns will not be there, but the sea will be illuminated by the procession of boats. Also this year the divers will pose on the wreck of the San Guglielmo a wreath of flowers.
Loano was originally a village of sailors and fishermen. Sailors would leave their families for months at a time and make their way to distant seas, and on the beach of Loano shipyards built and launched sailing ships, pinches, and leudi. The gulf was a natural harbor, and by the late 1700s, in good weather periods, there were more than a hundred sailing ships waiting to unload their cargo. The link with the sea was maintained over time, and after the war, with the advent of tourism, traditional initiatives were renewed, acquiring new meanings.
The families of fishermen and sailors enriched the sea lighting festival with scenic elements. They began to decorate their boats with lights that drew images of the sea, fishing and faith, and after launching their boats they went in procession to the wreck of the steamer “San Guglielmo” torpedoed and sunk during World War I. Here they recited the sailor's prayer with great solemnity, and a priest blessed the sea and the sailors. The lighted boats resumed their procession along the shoreline of Loano, and after the ceremony was over, the fishermen pulled their boats ashore on the beach and prepared for another day of work at sea.
