Calice al Cornoviglio: Castle, Museums and Hiking Trails

Calice al Cornoviglio combines a historically significant castle with museums, forested hiking trails, protected natural areas and traditional festivals. If you would like to combine culture, landscapes and local specialties during your trip, you will find a range of reasons to stay here – from a loop trail through chestnut forests to events centered around chestnuts and regional cuisine.

Castle and Unusual Museum Collection

The Castello di Calice al Cornoviglio has very ancient origins; its exact founding date is unknown. It was probably extensively remodeled during the rule of Placidia Doria, a descendant of Andrea Doria. In the process, the castle lost its defensive function in favor of a residential one.

The Museo della Brigata “Val di Vara” and the Museo delle Risorse Faunistiche are located on the piano nobile of the Castello di Calice al Cornoviglio. The lower floors house the Pinacoteca “David Beghè,” the Piccolo Museo “Pietro Rosa,” the Museo della Tradizione Contadina and the Museo dell'Apicoltura. The Piccolo Museo Pietro Rosa also preserves a fragment of a statue stele found near Borseda. The cultural spectrum therefore ranges from regional history and wildlife to painting, rural traditions and beekeeping.

Mountains, Water and Nature Park

Monte Cornoviglio is part of the landscape. At 1,162 meters, it is one of the two highest peaks in the municipality of Calice al Cornoviglio. The Torrente Usurana rises on the slopes of Monte Coppigliolo and flows into the Vara near Martinello. Calice al Cornoviglio is part of the Parco Naturale Regionale di Montemarcello-Magra-Vara, which promotes outdoor activities such as excursions and cycling.

Hiking Through Chestnut Forests

The Anello del Madrignano loop trail passes through Calice al Cornoviglio and is designated as a four-hour hike of difficulty level E. One section leads through chestnut forests. This allows you to discover the landscape not only through its peaks and waterways, but also along a clearly defined hiking route.

Festivals, Chestnuts and Honey

The Festa del Castagno has been held in the hamlet of Calice Castello since 1968. In Calice, it takes place on the second and third Sundays in October. The Festa di Santa Margherita takes place on the second and third weekends of July in Castello di Madrignano. There, you can try traditional dishes, including Ravioli di Santa Margherita. The event also includes an arts and crafts market at the nearby Oratorio dei SS. Rocco e Antonio Abate.

Beekeeping is also part of the local history: the connection between Calice al Cornoviglio and honey is very old. Local beekeeping activity was rediscovered in the 1980s after having been almost abandoned. The Museo dell'Apicoltura is the first beekeeping museum established in Liguria, complementing the town's culinary and cultural character.

Planning According to Your Interests

When planning your trip, you can focus on different aspects: the four-hour Anello del Madrignano appeals to different interests than the museums in the castle or the festivals in Calice Castello and Castello di Madrignano. Therefore, coordinate the location of your accommodation and your daily schedule with the experiences you want to enjoy. If accessibility is important, the entrance and car park of the Castello di Doria Malaspina di Calice are accessible to people with disabilities.

Discover More Destinations

For further orientation, you can also view Montemarcello, Ameglia, Casale, L'ago, Maissana, Riomaggiore, Fiascherino and Vernazza.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.