Favale Di Malvaro Between History and Monte Caucaso

Emigration and Religious History

The Museo dell’Emigrante “Casa Giannini” is dedicated to the history of Ligurian emigration and to Amedeo Pietro Giannini, the founder of the Bank of America. It is housed in an 18th-century building that was restored in 1983. Admission is free and visits are possible by prior appointment. Favale di Malvaro hosts the Giornata dell’emigrante every year on the last Sunday in June.

The Cimitero Valdese is considered a place of great historical and spiritual significance. It is associated with a history of faith, persecution and religious resistance dating back to the mid-19th century. Its origins are linked to the Cereghino family, who bore the nickname “Scialìn” (“gli Allegri”), came from the Castello district and were a family of Cantastorie. The Santuario di Nostra Signora del Rosario is the seat of the parish of San Vincenzo in the Val Fontanabuona Vicariate of the Diocese of Chiavari.

Historical Traces in the Districts

The history of the area also includes archaeological and architectural evidence. At Monte Ghirfo, there are archaeological traces of a Late Antique settlement; the morphology and documentation of a medieval military settlement have also been recorded there. In Canavissolo, there are Ligurian tombs dating from the Iron Age. The Passo di Pozzarelli is a mountain pass on an old mule track that connected Chiavari with Bobbio via Favale. Near the Mulino di Nicola, a bridge with a rising arch has been preserved. In Acereto, rural houses built on a slope date from the late 16th century, while in Castello there is a rural house built on a slope dating from the early 17th century. In the historic center of Arena, together with the Chiesetta di Arena, there is a complex of abandoned houses classified as a disused building of landscape value.

Monte Caucaso and Trails through the Mountain Landscape

The Anello del Caucaso runs around Monte Caucaso through the municipalities of Neirone, Moconesi, Favale di Malvaro and Lorsica. This circular route is associated with a mountain bike trail known as the Ciclovia dell’Ardesia. A section of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri runs through the Passo della Scoglina and the Barbagelata district as part of the Anello del Caucaso. The “Monte Caucaso” SAC area, code IT1331811, is a lightly anthropogenically influenced mountain area with beech forests, springs, streams and well-preserved rocky habitats. It extends across the municipalities of Favale di Malvaro and Moconesi. The Cappella del Monte Caucaso is located on the summit of Monte Caucaso, just a few steps from the lodge of the same name.

Crafts, Regional Cuisine and Special Events

At the Festa degli antichi e moderni mestieri, traditional crafts are demonstrated in practice. Local specialties such as minestrone, polenta and testaroli are also served. At the Cappella del Monte Caucaso, a midnight mass is held on New Year’s Eve following a torchlight walk from Barbagelata.

Further places for travel planning: Bargagli, Sant'olcese, Valbrevenna, Savignone, Tessi, Casella, Stibiveri, San Lorenzo della Costa

For the higher-level travel overview: Genoa.