The Pennavaire Valley

Enrico Pelos

General

From few kms from the Albenga coast, just passed the typical medieval village of Cisano in the Neva valley and Conscente with a beautiful castle (private), you wouldn't imagine to discover in Liguria a rock valley like in the northern mountains. After few miles, along the Pennavaire river you meet Castelbianco composed with the small villages of Colletta the so called "cyber village", Veravo, Vesallo and Oresine. Trekking along the Liguria Mountains High Way in search of villages and people I found, many years ago, Colletta of Castelbianco, which though completely abandoned and in ruins was emanating a strange feeling as of a still living place. I was then in the Pennavaire Valley, few kilometers inland from the rugged Ligurian coast near Genoa, to go towards Ligurian Alps and where Liguria and Piedmont meet together. I knew of fascinanting mountain landscapes almost unique in Liguria. This valley, narrow and secluded, was a revelation. Here are the magnificent Castellermo pinnacles, real "Lone Eagle's nest" where once on top you can have breathtaking sceneries among sky, mountains and sea. Here you have the magnificent flowerings of Dubasso and Galero mounts where sometime the marmots come near you. Here the ancient man discovered the wild beauty of grottos and deep wood falls. To us, stressed from the global life the communication era has permitted the restoring of the ancient medieval site living in the peace of the olive trees of the valley and allowing us to walk around far from the traffic and the madding crowd. After Castelbianco you find then Nasino a typical Ligurian village composed of different small villages and here you have to visit the parish church. From here you go to Vignolo another small but typical village in the peace of Monte Galero (1700m) one of the most interesting of the High Way, just above it. Here Liguria ends, but it is really valuable to go up the road after Alto by car or just walking directly from here to see the Madonna Lake Sanctuary. It is immersed in a natural woods and rocks scenery with a vast picnic area with some rare species of flowers. From here you can also go to the Pralè and Caprauna passes. These villages, property of different powerful families always fighting for the control of the important mountain pass, have been partially abandoned for a long time and recently in many cases houses have been bought for vacation by Northern Europe tourists so it is quite easy to meet German or English speaking people. In Castelbianco rock wall for the experts to be climbed and the so called "cybervillage" Colletta. Mountain bike is also very good along these many itineraries. Eating at Scola is very good idea for a nice stop. After Conscente you can take the road on the right to go to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena and Balestrino in the Toirano Varatella valley. 

(published on the web  15/1/2001)