Zuccarello, Castelvecchio and Colletta di Castelbianco

Zuccarello

Zuccarello is a village located in the hinterland of Albenga, about 12 km into the Val Neva. A settlement was founded in the 13th century together with the castle.
Classified among the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, it is a charming village that develops along a single street parallel to the river, flanked on each side by arcades with their motley pillars. Alleyways branch off from it to form the old fabric.
Each entrance door is flanked by a defensive tower, and the river is crossed by a beautiful Romanesque bridge. Mention should also be made of the Porta del Ponte di Neva, the Porta del Molino and the elegant Palazzo Marchionale with beautiful frescoes. In the latter, in 1459, peace was signed between Genoa (with the representative of the King of France) and the marquises Del Carretto of Finale.
The church of San Bartolomeo preserves remarkable works and a Romanesque-style bell tower. The oratory dedicated to Santa Maria Nascente keeps a 15th-century wooden Christ. The Attilio Quinzio Delfino Municipal Theatre was built on an old church.
Canals were used to feed the mills and supply the village.
To the south, there is the chapel of Saint Anthony with beautiful frescoes, as well as the church of the Madonna della Neve near the cemetery.
The Via del Roso, or Ilaria’s path, is a route that leads to the hamlet of Castelvecchio and is nearly three kilometres long. The path first climbs to the castle erected at the beginning of the 13th century with its well-preserved keep, where 15th-century frescoes can be found.

Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena

A few kilometres upstream along the Val Neva after Zuccarello, Castelvecchio lies on the beautiful slopes of a hill at 1100 metres above sea level. A beautiful path connects these two villages.
It is the most beautiful fortified village in the valley, at the foot of the mighty castle built by the Clavesana in the 11th century, on the route between the Piedmontese plain and western Liguria, long used by merchants.
In addition to being among the “most beautiful villages in Italy”, the village has obtained the “orange flag”, a label of tourist and environmental quality.
This fortress long resisted its powerful neighbours: Savoy and the Republic of Genoa. In the medieval village, narrow and winding alleyways climb, with its old fortified stone houses, vaulted passages, arches, portals, ovens, terraced roofs, wash-houses.
The majestic Porta Soprana marks the entrance to the village.
One can see the Church of the Assumption, renovated in Baroque style, which has kept its bell tower, the oratory of the Disciplinanti, the 17th-century sanctuary of Our Lady of Grace on the hill with its panorama over the village, etc.

Colletta di Castelbianco

In this curious place near the woods of the Val Pennavaire, one sees distinctive houses with white-trimmed windows amid stone walls, hiding workers behind screens.
The village was nothing but ruins before the idea of making it the first telematic medieval village. It was renovated and equipped to be electronically connected. The village has become charming, with its pretty cubic houses, alleyways, small squares and churches.

Map

Information

• Zuccarello: www.lascimmiaviaggiatrice.it, www.agriturismolegirandole.com
• Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena: lamialiguria.it, borghipiubelliditalia.it, www.agriturismolegirandole.com
• Colletta di Castelbianco: borghipiubelliditalia.it