Discover Garbagna: History, Trails and Bella di Garbagna

Garbagna is best discovered through its historic centre: closely packed houses, characteristic lanes, arches and carved portals evoke Ligurian villages. Medieval and ecclesiastical buildings, circular trails starting and ending in Garbagna, and the native Bella di Garbagna cherry variety add to the experience. This makes it possible to combine different interests on a trip.

Historic Centre and Medieval Traces

In the historic centre there is a large dark stone locally known as “a prega da l'urmu” and “Pietra dell'Olmo”. A document dated 24 September 1435 mentions the “pietre dell'olmo”. The remains of Castello di Garbagna form a medieval, austere manor house with a square tower.

Castello di Garbagna can be reached from Piazza P. Doria via Via Castello in just over 15 minutes on foot. Piazza Doria is also home to the Oratorio di San Rocco, a 16th-century building. It is the seat of an active confraternity; during gatherings and ceremonies, its members still wear red cloaks today.

Churches, Archive and a Sanctuary

The parish church of San Giovanni Battista is an 18th-century reconstruction replacing the original Romanesque parish church from the 11th century. It preserves a 17th-century organ considered the oldest in the Diocese of Tortona. The parish archive contains parchments and old books from the 10th to the 15th century, as well as a rare missal from the 7th or 8th century.

The Santuario Madonna del Lago in the hamlet of Lago di Feiga can be reached by car via the S.P. 120 or on foot from Piazza Doria in just over 20 minutes. Access to the sanctuary is barrier-free. Its origins are associated with the year 1341 and the conflicts between the Guelphs and Ghibellines.

Arriving in the Centre

The historic centre can also be reached from the S.P. 120 via Piazza Doria. There are designated parking spaces there, and access for people with disabilities is always guaranteed.

Hiking Trails Starting in Garbagna

The trails of Il Cammino del Principe Doria include routes no. 123 and no. 138. They form two circular routes starting and ending in Garbagna, run mainly through the municipality of Garbagna and are approximately 28 kilometres long in total. The Sentiero Garbagna–Monte Trassa starts at Piazza Doria in the town centre, at an altitude of 296 metres. The Cammino del Principe Doria is a themed hiking trail through a rural and agricultural landscape with natural features that can be explored on foot.

Bella di Garbagna

Bella di Garbagna is a native cherry variety with dark-red skin, very firm and crisp flesh, and a sweet, lingering flavour. Its production area includes Garbagna and all the municipalities of Val Curone in the Province of Alessandria.

Further Destinations

Further destinations: Trisobbio, Occimiano, Capriata D'orba, Quattordio, Spigno Monferrato, Montaldo Cosola, Cadepiaggio, Valenza

To the higher-level travel overview: Alessandria.