2 Championship of the sweet April fish

2 Championship of the sweet April fish

2 SAVONA SWEET APRIL FISH CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday, March 16, at the Serenella Gardens of SMS Fornaci (Corso Vittorio Veneto -Savona) will be held the second edition of the April Sweet Fish Championship of Savona- Premio L'Anciua.

In the afternoon, between 15.30 and 18.00, will take place the presentation of the 2nd Championship "The Sweet April Fish of Savona/ L'Anciua Prize", the award of the winner and the tasting of Sweet Fishes for the public present, to which will be asked to give a free offer whose proceeds will be donated to the Parish of the Snow of the Furnaces.

In Savona there is a particular confectionery tradition, unknown in the rest of Italy: the Pesce d'Aprile, a large fish-shaped cake sold in pieces. This cake is composed of a sponge cake base, filled with creams of various flavors and covered in a colored glaze that recreates the looks and scales of a real fish.

It is an exclusively savonese tradition, which fills the storefronts of pastry shops throughout the month of March, then disappears immediately after 1 April.

But what is the origin of this curious custom?

According to a legend, it all began in 1528 after the final conquest of the city by the Republic of Genoa. It is said that a doge of Genoa had arrived on the beach of Fornaci, a district of Savona inhabited by a large community of fishermen. On 1 April, to make fun of him, the fishermen would stick a fake fish on his back. The Doge, aware of the joke, would have offended himself to such an extent as to threaten heavy reprisals against the inhabitants of the area.

To appease his anger, the fishermen turned to a local pastry chef, asking him to create a special dessert to offer to the doge as a sign of peace.

This is how the first sweet April Fish was born, giving rise to a tradition that still endures today.