GOINA

"The thing that I regret the most – says Giacumin Lanteri, sitting on a chestnut tree trunk, in front of his nice house, in Triora – is the misery of my poor old parents". Goina’s people used to live in poverty.

This is how we found out that this group of houses, immerged in greenery of old chestnuts, in the richest pasture land of the Council, hide a life of renunciation. The houses were used for everything: as a place to live in, as a hayloft and a refuge for the cattle. The wine was unknown, and, if someone that came to Triora, let themselves be tempted to try a few glasses, they went home invariably drunk.

Goina, that maybe means "little throat", in the centre of two water flows, was discovered by shepherds from Realdo, Verdeggia,Upega, Frabosa, and others villages. Their only interest was for the cattle, in large numbers; their proceeds from selling cheese was used for some clothes and a pair of shoes.

The adventure of Goina ended in 1950, when all the families sold their cattle and what they possessed to look for a better life in another place. There remained a couple of families; Mr. Saldo Antonio and Mr. Stella Silvio resisted and they would never abandon their land.

A Committee of friends was born to help Goina and to get still alive this wonderful green corner.