Gazzelli: Sundials, Chapels and Pizzo d’Evigno

If you would like to discover Italy through tangible traces, religious sites and landscapes, Gazzelli offers a variety of points of interest. On the west facade of a dilapidated house, the traces of two old sundials are visible; they urgently need to be restored. There are also chapels, processions, a mechanical nativity scene and the ascent to Pizzo d’Evigno. In this way, Gazzelli combines local memories with a mountain landscape between the sea and the mountains.

Pizzo d’Evigno and the route from Gazzelli

Pizzo d’Evigno is a grassy pyramid between the sea and the mountains, reaching an elevation of 989 metres at its summit. From Gazzelli, a route follows an old mule track up the hill above the village to the remains of the former Chapel of San Bernardo. The path then crosses the road between Località Proxi and Chiusanico and continues along a route marked with colour markings and arrows to the summit. For planning purposes, the route can therefore be followed in clear sections from the village via the chapel remains to the summit.

Historical traces in the villagescape

Gazzelli and Pizzo d’Evigno are also connected to the area’s former working life. Until the 1950s, bales of hay were transported from Pizzo d’Evigno almost 700 metres downhill to Gazzelli’s square by means of a steel cable. The two sundials on the west facade of a dilapidated house are among the visible structural traces whose urgent restoration is expressly required. Together with the old mule track, they create a picture of routes, work and orientation between the mountain and the village.

Chapels, churches and religious traditions

The Cappella di San Nicolao is located on the municipal road between Gazzelli and Diano Arentino. According to tradition, it is considered Gazzelli’s oldest religious building and was probably built in the 12th century. Gazzelli’s parish church, Chiesa di Sant’Andrea, is located at Piazza della Chiesa 1 in Chiusanico. The Santuario della Madonna della Visitazione is also known as Madonna degli Angeli and is located in the Gazzelli hamlet. Each of these places represents a distinct chapter in the area’s religious history and present.

Nativity scene and festivals

During the Christmas season, the mechanical nativity scene recreates scenes from rural everyday life as well as present-day Gazzelli. Hundreds of small gears set figures of farmers, shepherds, card players, olive mill workers, women doing the laundry and women carding wool in motion. On 2 July, during the religious celebrations, the venerated wooden sculpture of the Madonna della Visitazione is carried from the sanctuary to the parish church of Sant’Andrea in Gazzelli and then back to the sanctuary in a procession.

The Festa di N.S. degli Angeli is a village festival in Gazzelli held on the occasion of religious celebrations.

Extra virgin olive oil: Raineri since 1910

Raineri has been producing and packaging extra virgin olive oil since 1910.

Further places for your trip to Italy

For further travel planning, you can also explore Olivetta San Michele, Chiusavecchia, Civezza, Cartari, Caravonica, Diano Arentino, Terzorio and Costarainera.

For the higher-level travel overview: Imperia.