Discover Busalla: Nature, History and Events

Busalla is part of Antola Regional Natural Park. The town combines its natural surroundings with a multifaceted history of castles, villas, churches and local events. This makes it a destination that brings together an interest in nature and culture in many different ways.

Park and Paths Near the Centre

Villa Borzino is located near the centre of Busalla, in the town’s largest park; the entrance is opposite the railway station at Piazza Emilio Borzino. The restored Ex-Chiusa Path follows the historic canal that supplied water to Busalla’s mills and steam to the trains on the Turin–Genoa line. Just a few hundred metres from the town centre, the path offers a walk through greenery among gardens and woods. Busalla is also considered a starting point for various excursions.

Open-Air Space at Piana Nardin

Piana Nardin has an outdoor fitness area and offers picnic tables as well as a barbecue area. This provides different options for spending time outdoors, including exercise, picnicking and barbecuing.

Castle, Villa and Sacred Art

Busalla’s architectural and artistic history extends from its medieval castle to the town’s churches. The castle was built by the Spinola di Luccoli family and conquered by the Genoese Guelphs in 1252. Villa Borzino was designed in 1919 by the architect Giuseppe Crosa di Vergagni for Emilio Borzino. The present-day Church of San Giorgio has three naves and was expanded in 1828–1829 and again in 1903. It contains Pietro Raimondi’s painting “La Madonna appare a San Gaetano”. The presbytery also contains Giovanni Battista Carlone’s works “San Paolo e Plotilla” and “La Decollazione di San Paolo”.

Sanctuary and Rocks

The Santuario di N.S. della Bastia was created by enlarging an earlier rural chapel and is associated with the discovery of a statue of the Virgin Mary around the middle of the 17th century. Near the sanctuary, you can observe the contact between the Antola marls and the Savignone Conglomerate. This place therefore combines religious history with a specific geological detail.

Events with Different Themes

The Festival dello Spazio offers exhibitions, interactive demonstrations, astronomical observation experiences, science communication shows and themed conferences. It originated in 2017 from an idea by Fabrizio Fazzari and Franco Malerba and was launched to celebrate Malerba’s spaceflight 25 years earlier on the STS-46 mission. The Festa delle Rose di Busalla reached its 24th edition in 2026 and took place on 13 and 14 June 2026. As part of its programme, guided tours of the park and the rooms of Villa Borzino were offered; they were available only by prior reservation and lasted 90 minutes. The new Roseto di Villa Borzino was also officially inaugurated. At the Sagra delle Antiche Rose della Valle Scrivia, a menu dedicated to the Antica Rosa della Valle Scrivia was available.

Choose Accommodation Based on Your Interests

If you are looking for a hotel in Busalla, you can focus on nature and outdoor activities, sacred art and architectural history, geology or dated event content. This thematic range leaves room for different daily rhythms and an individually planned trip.

More Places for Your Itinerary

For further options, you can also consider Masone, Bracco, Lavagna, Cicagna, La Costa, Portofino, Leivi and Uscio.

For the broader travel overview: Genoa.