Discover Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena

Between a medieval townscape and the mountain landscape of the Val Neva

Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena is situated on a rocky promontory and combines a well-preserved medieval townscape with the mountain landscape of the Val Neva. The village is considered the oldest feudal village in the Val Neva and has received the Touring Club Italiano’s Bandiera Arancione quality mark.

The Strada Provinciale 582 between Albenga and Garessio

Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena is located on the Strada Provinciale 582 del Colle San Bernardo. The road connects Albenga with Garessio.

Alleys, squares and stone details

The narrow, winding alleys are spanned by earthquake-protection arches that connect stone residential buildings. Small squares are home to old stone washhouses. Within the village, the circular route follows Via S. Michele through stone arches and picturesque alleys to Piazza Cavour. This means you encounter historic architectural elements not only at individual sights, but also along the paths through Castelvecchio.

Churches and oratories

The parish church of Santa Maria Assunta was rebuilt in the Baroque period over an older structure. The 17th-century parish oratory, Oratorio di S. Maria Maddalena, stands in Piazza della Torre. The Oratorio di Santa Maria Maddalena features a Baroque bell tower and a lunette depicting the saints. The parish church and the oratory represent different building periods: the Baroque period and the 17th century.

Views and trails around Rocca Barbena

The hill of Castello dei Clavesana offers views across the Val Neva. The Monte Ravinet–Roccabarbena SAC includes, among other places, the municipality of Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena. The trails in the surrounding mountain landscape also incorporate Rocca Barbena: the Colle Scravaion–Giogo di Toirano stage of the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri has a high-altitude variant via Rocca Barbena.

A marked trail from Colle Scravaion leads over grassy slopes and between rocky towers to the summit of Rocca Barbena. In addition, a circular route connects Zuccarello, Erli and Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena. The different routes help you distinguish between a circular walk related to the village, a walking trail and a mountain route according to your own travel interests. The walking trail from Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena to Zuccarello is dedicated to Ilaria Del Carretto.

Via del Roso and the landscape around the village

The medieval townscape, squares and religious buildings contrast with a landscape featuring views, rocky towers, olive groves and mountain trails. Via del Roso leads downhill from Piazza Cavour through olive groves, past fountains and terraces with dry-stone walls. Its downhill course complements the paths through the stone-built center with a section through the surrounding landscape.

Discover more places

More places for planning your trip: Villanova D'albenga, Balestrino, Casanova Lerrone, Magliolo, Borghetto Santo Spirito, Bormida, Stellanello, Calizzano.

To the higher-level travel overview: Savona.