Brigasca culture lives here The town of Verdeggia rises 1100 m in the center of the rocky amphitheater of Mount Saccarello, framed by woods and streams that give birth to the Argentina stream.Probably founded in the sixteenth century, it was partially destroyed on January 30 1805 by an avalanche, causing the death of 16 people. […]
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Parish of San Giovanni Battista of Andora
Master church of the valley Nominated for the first time in 1252, it could, according to the historian Nino Lamboglia, rise on an early Christian church. Until the 17th century it was one of the two main churches, or even the most important, of the lower Merula Valley and Laigueglia.
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Boundary stone of Bajardo
Ancient “termine” between municipalities The “termini” are boundary stones used both for private land and municipality or state borders, usually made with a large high and narrow stone, and two reinforcing stones, called “testimoni” (witnesses), to stabilise the large stone avoiding damages or unwanted movement. Sometimes boundary stones are more elaborate, like this beautiful term consisting of two well-squared stones stuck […]
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Ponte de Raigà a Mendatica
An unprecedented work of rural architecture Near the meeting point between the Creuso and the Passo Cagnasso creeks there is a splendid and mighty stone bridge, called “de Raigà”. It’s part of the mule track that once connected Mendatica to the Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Colombi and Cosio d’Arroscia.While the bridges along the mule […]
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Sanctuary of the Madonna dei Colombi in Mendatica
Small baroque jewel in the Upper Arroscia Valley The original sanctuary of the Madonna dei Colombi, built in the 18th century, was destroyed by the earthquake of 23 February 1887 and rebuilt in the Baroque style in 1904.The building was connected to the village of Mendatica by a mule track that crosses the Rio Passo […]
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The stone piles of Alpe di Baudo
The mysterious rock shapes We are in Liguria on Alpe di Baudo mountain, above the ancient village of Carpasio. Here, dozens of stone piles emerge from the earth, arranged with great care. There are several fascinating theories about their origin. However, digging into the memories of the inhabitants of the Carpasina Valley reveals the mystery. […]
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Mendatica
Capital of the Cucina Bianca Mendatica’s origins date back to the second half of the first millennium after Christ, a period in which a part of the Ingauna population (coming from today’s Albenga), driven by Saracen raids from the sea, took refuge in the Upper Arroscia Valley.The inhabitants were dedicated to agriculture and pastoralism, a […]
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Chapel of San Bernardo, Lavinella
Along the ancient path to Marenca road In late spring, following the dirt road that leads from Lavina to Monte Guardiabella, after a few km, splendid rosebuds emerge from the brambles. A careful eye would also see domestic fruit trees and the remains of numerous houses, hidden by vegetation. Here stood the original town of […]
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Neviera del Guardiabella
An unusual, huge snow pit Monte Guardiabella, the last mid-mountain meadow area where haymaking is still practiced, houses a uniquely shaped lneviera”: instead of being completely excavated in the ground, this is largely above ground, insulated by a series of concentric terraces of gradually increasing thickness approaching the base.This snow pit, whose construction has been […]
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Apricale
The medieval village headquarters of the Counts of Ventimiglia The first human traces around Apricale date back to the Bronze Age, as evidenced by the sepulchral mounds of Pian del Re. The village was officially founded in the 10th century by the Counts of Ventimiglia who also built the Castello della Lucertola, a castle today […]
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