Discover Civezza: Carruggi, Baroque Parish Church and Olive Oil

Civezza between Carruggi and Olive-Growing Culture

Civezza is a medieval village in the Rio San Lorenzo valley, with typical carruggi characteristic of the hinterland of the Province of Imperia. Those who want to combine townscapes, architecture and regional history will find the Fontana at Piazza Marconi, the parish church of San Marco Evangelista, a late-medieval tower house, and the long-standing importance of olive growing and oil production here. This makes the village particularly interesting for a trip in which you can view history not only in a single building, but in the interplay of carruggi, squares and paths.

Historical Traces in the Townscape

The Fontana, a public fountain from the 19th century, is located at Piazza Marconi.

The parish church of San Marco Evangelista features a Baroque design from the end of the 18th century. It was built approximately between 1776/1777 and 1793/1794. Civezza therefore has a building in which the history of the village can be precisely dated.

The “del Rivello” tower house, also known as “degli Svizzeri”, is located at Piazza Venezia. It is one of five late-medieval defensive structures still well preserved in Civezza. Together with the Baroque parish church, it makes two different historical periods visible in the townscape.

The “Gianmarco Ricca” Forum is located in a 15th-century oil mill that was powered by animals. This place thus combines the architecture of a historic oil mill with its former use of animal power.

Olive Oil and Paths in the Surrounding Area

Olive growing and oil production have long been among the most important economic resources of the Civezza area. As early as the 15th century, the landscape of Ciazze in Civezza supplied olive oil for a lamp in San Giovanni di Pré in Genoa.

The paths also have different spatial connections. The Civezza–Lingueglietta route begins below the parish church of San Marco Evangelista and follows the mule track “via della Costa” towards the Oratorio di San Salvatore. For planning your own route, the desired direction is therefore the first decisive factor: Lingueglietta or the Lagoscuro basins. From the Anello di Civezza, you can continue farther into the valley towards the Lagoscuro basins.

Museums and Choosing Your Accommodation

Additional museum destinations are located in the surrounding area. The Historical Institute for the Resistance is a museum near Civezza, as is the Pinacoteca Civica. The Naval Museum of West Liguria is a museum in the area around Civezza. In addition to the buildings in the village, you can therefore also include museums nearby and in the surrounding area.

When looking for a hotel in Civezza, you can tailor the focus of your stay to these themes: carruggi and squares, San Marco Evangelista and the tower house, the history of olive growing and oil production, or the paths and museums in the surrounding area.

More Places for Planning Your Trip

For further travel planning, you can also discover Cervo, Ospedaletti, Cesio, Borganzo, Riva Faraldi, Trucco, Costa D'oneglia and Castellaro.

For the higher-level travel overview: Imperia.