San Lazzaro Reale between rivers and old roads

San Lazzaro Reale is a typical Ligurian village on a hillside. It lies at the confluence of the Rio Tresenda and the Torrente Impero; at the village, the Torrente Impero turns west.

Romanesque Bridge and Old Roads

One of the village’s defining landmarks is the Romanesque bridge of San Lazzaro Reale. It has two arches and dates from the end of the 15th century. Historically, it formed part of an important road junction between the Via Marenca, Lucinasco, the main route along the Torrente Impero, and Caravonica. The old mule tracks from Oneglia also branched off at San Lazzaro Reale: routes along the valley floor and ridgelines led towards Piedmont and other settlements in the valley. This provides you with a vivid insight into the former transport connections of the Ligurian mountain landscape, without equating the historic paths with modern routes.

Church, Oratorio, and Local History

The parish church of San Lazzaro Reale was rebuilt in the 17th century. It preserves a valuable triptych depicting the Madonna and Child, attributed to the workshop of the painter Guidi da Ranzo and dated to the 16th century. The Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista is located in San Lazzaro Reale on Via don Tomatis. A monumental sacred niche with a large clock occupies almost the entire façade of a building. The village name also points to historical connections: the name component “Reale” is considered a likely legacy of the rule of the House of Savoy. San Lazzaro Reale is also historically connected with the events of the Valle del Maro. The first late-medieval building complexes arose along two historic routes and originally served commercial purposes.

Agriculture and Local Connections

Olive cultivation is one of San Lazzaro Reale’s most important agricultural resources. San Lazzaro Reale is also regarded as the home of the botanist Corradi. In the past, eel fishing was practiced as a distinctive sport in the waters of the Torrente Impero near the small village. A patronal festival in honor of Saint Lazarus is recorded for August 31.

Which Interests San Lazzaro Reale Suits

If you would like to combine cultural history, landscapes, and historic transport routes on your trip to Italy, San Lazzaro Reale offers several distinct points of interest. The bridge and mule tracks represent the village’s former importance at various connections; the parish church, triptych, Oratorio, and sacred niche draw attention to architecture and religious art. The confluence of the Rio Tresenda and Torrente Impero, together with olive cultivation, adds natural surroundings and agriculture to this perspective. This allows you to choose San Lazzaro Reale specifically according to the themes that define the focus of your trip.

More Places for Your Trip to Italy

For further orientation, also discover Rocchetta Nervina, Costarainera, Chiusanico, Riva Ligure, San Lorenzo Al Mare, Torrazza, Villatalla and Molini Di Triora.

For the overarching travel overview: Imperia.