Piana Battolla between the Vara River, history and asado

Piana Battolla lies on the right bank of the Vara River and combines riverside landscapes, local history and a distinctive culinary tradition. The town is particularly suitable as a travel destination if you want to plan your stay not only around individual sights, but also around historical traces, paths and local cuisine. When choosing your accommodation, you can therefore consider whether the historic centre, the paths along the Vara or the asado tradition is the deciding factor for you.

Historic Centre and Pilgrimage History

The historic centre of Piana Battolla is clustered around the Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice, built between 1824 and 1869. As early as 1800, Piana Battolla was an important trading centre where residents obtained raw materials. In the Middle Ages, the town was also an important passage point for pilgrims travelling to the Holy City. Trade, sacred architecture and historic routes give the town centre several layers that you can connect during a walk.

Santa Maria Ausiliatrice

The Church of Santa Maria Ausiliatrice was built between 1824 and 1869. It was consecrated on 21 April 1894. For visitors interested in culture, it is a natural point of reference if you want to explore the development of the historic centre through its architectural history. The long construction period and the consecration date, which came significantly later, are among the church’s notable milestones.

Paths along the Vara

The provincial road between Piano di Follo and Piana Battolla continues westwards via Beverino to the Aurelia state road. The route from Piana Battolla via Beverino to Padivarma follows the course of the “Strada dei Tedeschi”. Along the right bank of the Vara, the hiking trail offers several views of the river and runs through shaded surroundings. If you like to divide your days between visiting local sights and being active, these connections and river views provide a practical basis for your personal planning.

Asado and Local Festival Culture

The asado of Piana Battolla is a meat dish prepared in the Argentine gaucho style. It is cooked slowly over glowing embers and refined with the “Cimiciuri” sauce. The tradition goes back to returnees who came back after spending a long period working in Latin America during the post-war era and brought the dish with them. The Sagra dell'Asado of Piana Battolla takes place around 16 August and includes painting, music, dancing, traditional food and wines. The cuisine is therefore just as much a part of the local identity as the historic church and the paths along the river.

Practical Orientation for Families

In the municipality of Follo, there is a municipal green space equipped as a playground. For families, this specific place can offer an additional opportunity for a break with children when planning the day. Together with the walking paths, historic centre and culinary tradition, Piana Battolla can thus be explored according to different interests without reducing the character of the town to just one theme.

Further Places for Planning Your Trip

You can find further places here: Portovenere, Campiglia, Ortonovo, Framura, San Pietro Vara, Calice Al Cornoviglio, Varese Ligure, Cavanella Vara.

For the higher-level travel overview: La Spezia.