Calizzano among trails, forests and history

Calizzano combines marked trails with beech forests, historic churches, springs and a tradition of Ligurian sweets. If you would like to shape your stay in Italy around nature, culture and regional specialties, you will find several specific points of interest here. The Ligurian Riviera is also accessible from Calizzano.

Marked trails for different interests

For hiking enthusiasts, the trail markers provide a clear point of orientation. The route from Località Franchella to Lago di Cravè is marked with the H trail sign. Another route leads from Calizzano via Prati di Mereta and Cascina Coccalini to San Mauro; its marker consists of three small dots arranged in a triangle. From Madonna delle Grazie, a route runs via Barozzo, Bric Bedò and the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri to Melogno and bears the trail marker “=”. La Barbottina, a forest with monumental beech trees, can be reached via the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri between stages 13 and 14.

Beech forests, springs and protected nature

The Area protetta Provinciale Melogno extends from Monte Bedò to Monte Settepani. This area includes high-forest beech woods that are among the most beautiful, least affected by human activity and best-structured forests in all of Liguria. In the limestone-dolomitic section, there are also caves with interesting endemic animals. Calizzano has 13 springs where you can cool off.

Churches and historical traces

The Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Grazie preserves a Romanesque portico with frescoes and a 14th-century fresco depicting the Madonna and Child. The Chiesa di San Lorenzo was built between 1587 and 1600 on the site of an earlier Romanesque marquisate church. The Chiesa del Rosario is considered to be the former Annunziata al Pasquale. The Convento dei Domenicani and the Chiesa dell’Annunziata al Pasquale were begun and completed between 1530 and 1540.

The historic Borgo of Calizzano was surrounded by walls on three sides. It had three gates: Porta di San Rocco, Porta della Barbacana and Porta del Mulino. The town’s historic economy is also part of its local history: the Marchesi del Finale and the Republic of Genoa had at least four ironworks built on the banks of the Bormida and its tributaries.

Forest products and practical information

Revenue from the sale of collection permits for forest products funds the maintenance of roads, trails, fountains and equipped rest areas in Calizzano. The collection of forest products, particularly Calizzano’s mushrooms, is regulated by a consortium founded in 1983. From Calizzano, the Ligurian Riviera can be reached by car in approximately 30 minutes via the Colle del Melogno; the distance is stated as 23 kilometres.

Traditional sweets from Liguria

Pan e ossa dei morti are traditional Ligurian sweets associated with the commemoration of the dead. They are widespread in Calizzano and Val Bormida and are eaten especially in autumn around All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. Pan dei morti is made from crumbled dry biscuits, flour, cocoa, white wine, dried fruit, cinnamon and egg whites. Ossa dei morti are dry biscuits made from flour, bicarbonate of soda and whole hazelnuts.

When choosing accommodation in Calizzano, it is worth deciding in advance whether you want to give particular importance to marked routes, forest landscapes, architectural history or regional sweets.

Discover more destinations

For further orientation, you can also find Zuccarello, Tovo San Giacomo, Calice Ligure, Finale Ligure, Villalunga, Borghi, Pontinvrea and Altare.

For the broader travel overview: Savona.