Clara is a teacher in Soglio, a village in Orero in Fontanabuona, behind Chiavari. At weekends she meets up with Enrico, who works in Genoa. On a carefree day, Sunday 14 July 1940, now engaged, they meet up with friends by the sea, in Recco. Despite her festive, country dress, Clara shows off her rowing skills to accompany her friends out to sea. Then with a nonchalant air she holds Enrico's camera in her hand, instead of holding it around her neck with the special strap. It is a Leica IIIa, and Clara photographs - or pretends to photograph - her cameraman boyfriend...

In these shots Clara, a worthy niece of uncles, true men of the sea, steers the boat alone, while in the background one can see the old seaside village of Recco, the sanctuary of San Michele and the S.S. Crocifisso. Next, the gaze goes towards Camogli and further in the distance towards Punta Chiappa on the Portofino mountain. The sturdy bell tower of the sanctuary soars and will still soar despite the nefarious events of the war to come. On that day, the atmosphere is peaceful, although Italy had been at war for about a month. In the background are the large writings of the Duce on the walls, signs of time that, together with entire areas of the town, will be wiped out by the massive Allied air raids of 1943 and 1944. At least twenty-five were recorded, strategically targeting the railway bridge over the town. More than 90 per cent of the original settlement will be destroyed. For this sacrifice, the town will be awarded the Gold Medal of Civil Merit. After reconstruction, Recco will be called the 'gastronomic capital of Liguria': focaccia with cheese, pansoti with walnut sauce and trofiette al pesto, but this is 'almost' another story, from economic reconstruction and peacetime 'boom'.