Discover Poggialto – a historic settlement on the mountain ridge

Poggialto on the mountain ridge

Poggialto is located at an altitude of 560 metres north of Aurigo. The settlement stretches along a ridgeline and lies on a projecting spur of land. The historic settlement is still clearly visible from a distance. For an individual tour through Poggialto, the ridgeline, projecting spur and northern location relative to Aurigo provide the spatial starting point for further exploration of the locality on foot. This gives your travel planning a clear spatial character: Poggialto combines its elevated location, compact settlement layout and history that has remained visible. The altitude of 560 metres remains a point of reference for orientation between Poggialto and Aurigo.

Poggialto is regarded as a typical Alpine settlement with a compact structure and houses with small openings. These features in particular shape the view of the settlement. The built-up character and the small openings of the houses, together with the location on the ridge, are among the specific aspects to look out for during a tour. When looking at the houses in the locality, the compact structure and small openings therefore take centre stage together.

San Bernardo and the townscape

The churchyard of the Chiesa di San Bernardo in Poggialto can be reached via Via San Bernardo. For a tour of the settlement, the churchyard can be approached via Via San Bernardo. The church is also the most important architectural landmark of the locality of Poggialto.

The Chiesa di San Bernardo preserves a medieval holy water stoup made of black stone on a column. The Chiesa di San Bernardo is designated as a protected object.

The medieval Oratory of San Bernardo was built opposite the tower of Poggialto at the point where the road crossed the mountain ridge.

Trails between Poggialto and Aurigo

Poggialto lies at the upper end of a secondary ridge trail. An important hillside trail connects Aurigo and Poggialto through an agricultural landscape. From Aurigo, Poggialto can be reached via historic mule tracks as part of a circular route.

Circular routes connect the main settlement of Aurigo with Poggialto via historic mule tracks that are still walkable. When planning a walk, the agricultural hillside trail and the historic mule tracks that are still walkable can be considered as two different types of route between Aurigo and Poggialto. If you structure your stay around daily stages and visits to the settlements, these trails can place the historic character of the connection between the main settlement and the locality at the centre of your itinerary.

Public transport connection

Riviera-Transporti line 28 connects Imperia Oneglia, Pontedassio, Borgomaro and Poggialto and operates only on weekdays.

Religious history

In Poggialto, a patronal celebration in honour of Saint Bernard was held as a religious and community event. This event adds a social dimension to the perspective on San Bernardo. In addition to the medieval oratory and the Chiesa di San Bernardo, this religious occasion is also part of the history of the locality.

Further destinations: Praelo, Pompeiana, Borgomaro, San Bartolomeo Di Caravonica, Vessalico, Latte, Rocchetta Nervina, Gazzelli.

For the overview of the wider area: Imperia.