Chiusavecchia: Churches, Walking Routes and Local Festival Traditions

Chiusavecchia combines sacred art, historic buildings, peaceful paths and a festival rich in tradition. Among the Baroque church, the ruins of a former watchtower, the striking Ponte sull’Impero and olive groves, you can combine culture with walks.

Churches and Art in Chiusavecchia

The Chiesa parrocchiale is a Baroque church dedicated to San Biagio and San Francesco di Sales, dating from the second half of the 17th century. Its interior has a single nave and four side chapels. The church also houses an extraordinary work in terms of both size and quality, carved by an unknown artist between the 15th and 16th centuries.

The Oratorio di Santa Croce was built between the 16th and 17th centuries and was the seat of the Brotherhood of the Disciplinanti. The interior is not open to visitors. La Colombera is a former watchtower, now preserved as a ruin. An easy 15-minute path leads to the ruins from the main square of Chiusavecchia.

The Ponte sull’Impero and Paths in the Area

The Ponte sull’Impero has a broad central arch, a shallow-arched structure and smaller side arches. It has always been a connecting route to Borgoratto, a small settlement on the other bank of the Torrente Impero. The bridge can be reached on foot in about five minutes and is also accessible to strollers and wheelchairs. For orientation on site, both the approximate walking time and accessibility are therefore relevant.

Paths, Meadows and Festival Traditions

Chiusavecchia has peaceful paths through olive groves, oak trees and flowering meadows. These landscape features give walks a quiet, nature-oriented setting. The Fiera del 2 giugno is a traditional festival that has been renewed or continued for more than a hundred years. It includes street-food stalls offering typical products, as well as craft stalls. The festival date thus combines culinary impressions with artisanal offerings.

The Santuario della Madonna dell’oliveto

The Santuario della Madonna dell’oliveto probably dates back to the 13th or 14th century. In the 19th century, it was transformed from the Romanesque style to the Neoclassical style. The statues kept there are carried in a procession every year on September 8: these include the statues of the Assunta, Santa Infanzia, Madonna delle Figlie or Immaculate Conception, and San Luigi Gonzaga. Access is provided during services or by prior reservation. Anyone wishing to include this site should plan the procession date and the access requirement separately.

For a stay with accommodation in Chiusavecchia, you can tailor the focus to your interests: churches and the Santuario for culture and religious traditions, paths and olive groves for peaceful activity, and the Ponte and La Colombera for architecture and local history. This keeps Chiusavecchia suitable for planning both a culturally focused and a landscape-oriented stay.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

Caravonica, Cervo, Bellissimi, Pairola, Borgo Sant'agata, Glori, Prela, Camporosso

For the main travel overview: Imperia.