Aurigo among churches, towers and old paths

Aurigo among religious buildings and local history

Aurigo makes its history visible in concrete places: churches, towers and a historic Palazzo represent the character of the village just as much as the old paths through olive groves and forests.

The Santuario di San Paolo houses a precious polyptych by Giulio De Rossi dating from 1569. The work depicts Saint Paul between Saints Andrew and Peter. Near the parish church is the Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista, decorated with stuccowork by Gio Paolo Marvaldi from the late 17th century. Both places draw attention to the religious art and the artistic craftsmanship that complement the villagescape.

The parish church of Natività di Maria Vergine is also one of Aurigo’s defining buildings. It may have been built in the 14th century, when the population settled at the foot of the Ventimiglia castle. The Palazzo De Gubernatis Ventimiglia was built from the 17th century onward near the ruins of the former castle of Aurigo. Reused materials from the former castle were used in its construction. The tentative dating of the church and the later construction of the Palazzo reveal different layers of local history, without allowing a continuous development to be inferred.

Towers with changing functions

The Torre di Sant’Andrea is a square tower from the 12th century. In later periods, it was converted into the bell tower of the church of Sant’Andrea. At the same time, the bell tower of Sant’Andrea, together with the Torre della Colombera, formed part of the castle’s military defense system. The Torre della Colombera served as a watchtower for monitoring the Valle del Maro, particularly for spotting Saracen raids from the sea.

The Torre della Colombera is located a few kilometers from Aurigo and dates from the 13th century. Those interested in medieval architectural forms, later changes of use and the connection between local history and landscape can include these towers as separate focal points in their travel plans. The individual buildings remain distinguishable in their respective locations and functions.

Hiking trails through olive groves and chestnut forests

In the Aurigo area, hiking trails run mainly through terraced olive groves and chestnut forests on the slopes. Circular routes connect the main village with the hamlets of Guardiabella and Poggialto as well as with neighboring municipalities. The trail network uses historic mule tracks that are still passable. The Chiesa di Sant’Andrea is located on a high-altitude trail that connects it with San Paolo.

A hiking route from Aurigo follows a mule track past the Santuario di San Paolo and the Santuario di Sant’Andrea. It runs through terraced olive groves and downy oak forests. If you do not want to focus your days exclusively on individual sights, this allows you to explore different trail sections between buildings, hamlets and wooded slopes. The circular routes and the individual route offer various starting points for planning a day with a stronger cultural focus or one centered more on the landscape.

Fiera di San Paolo and local food culture

The historic Fiera di San Paolo in Aurigo takes place every year on June 29 and 30. This recurring date is particularly relevant if you would like to plan your trip around a fixed event in the village.

The Torta verde typical of Aurigo and the Province of Imperia is part of the region’s identity; in Ligurian, it is called “a turta de gè”. In Aurigo, it was formerly known as “L’Alleluja” and traditionally could not be eaten until the parish priest had blessed it. Aurigo also has a bread-making tradition passed down from generation to generation. Historically, dried figs were an important economic resource for the village; consequently, residents of neighboring villages called the people of Aurigo “figalei”.

Further places to explore: Borgo Sant'agata, Colle San Bartolomeo, Termini, Apricale, Badalucco, Terzorio, Torrazza, Costa Carnara

For the broader travel overview: Imperia.