Discover Prela: Churches, Art and Olive Groves

Prela Among Olive Groves and Cultural Heritage

Prelà lies in the upper Val Prino, surrounded by nature and shaped by olive groves. This gives you two ways to approach planning your trip: the valley’s landscape and a varied succession of religious, historical and artistic themes. If you would like to get to know the area through more than a single attraction, you will find concrete starting points for attentive observation, comparison and discovery. Churches, works of art, townscapes and a viewpoint each offer a different focus.

Churches and Works of Art in Tavole and Villatalla

In Tavole, the Chiesa della Santissima Annunziata is a Baroque building attributed to the architect Giacomo Filippo Marvaldi. The church houses a polyptych created by Agostino Casanova in 1575, depicting the Madonna del Soccorso. A polyptych is a multipart altarpiece. Here, it is worth considering the architecture and furnishings separately: the Baroque style and the dated artwork provide two distinct focal points.

The Chiesa di San Michele in Villatalla was built in the 15th century over an older Romanesque church. It houses a polyptych painted by Agostino Casanova around 1540. The Madonna della Neve chapel in Villatalla has stone architraves that suggest it was built around 1520. If you are examining historical development through specific buildings, these different forms invite you to pay attention to materials, layers and furnishings.

Architecture, Memorial Sites and Townscapes

The Church of the Visitation in Canneto is dedicated to the Madonna. Its façade is Neoclassical, while its interior is characterized by Baroque features; its feast is celebrated on September 12. Above the hamlet of Prelà, Castello di Pietralata is protected immovable cultural heritage. The “Colombera” tower in Villatalla is dated approximately to the period between 150 and 1550 and served to warn of the arrival of Turkish-Barbary pirates. These attractions bring together religious design, protected heritage and a historical warning function.

Valloria has more than 150 painted doors distributed along the village’s characteristic stone lanes. The Oratorio di Santa Croce in Valloria was built in 1587. The ancient Neviera in Villatalla was used to store snow in winter, which was later cut into blocks of ice and sold. The painted doors make the townscape immediately visible, while the Neviera offers an insight into earlier methods of storage and trade.

Further Testimonies and the View Towards the Coast

From the Santuario della Madonna del Piano, the view extends to the coast of Imperia and the promontory of Porto Maurizio. The parish church of San Giovanni del Groppo dates from the 15th century and houses a polyptych created by Agostino Casanova in 1547. The Oratorio di Santa Maria Maddalena in Molini is associated with the year 1585. The cultural selection thus ranges from a coastal view and sacred spaces to specific works of art. You can use these differences when organizing a stay in Italy around interests in landscapes, architectural history and painting.

More Destinations for Planning Your Trip

Pigna, Dolceacqua, Riva Faraldi, Diano Marina, Latte, Costarainera, Vallebona and Lecchiore

For the overarching travel overview: Imperia.