Gavedo among palazzi, church and mountain landscape

On a natural terrace on the slopes of La Nuda, Gavedo combines historic architecture with a distinctive mountain landscape. Those interested in culture, architectural history and challenging cycling experiences will find a range of starting points for planning a trip: the Chiesa dei Santi Lorenzo e Donnino, Palazzo Brignole-Sale, the medieval Castello di Gavedo and the Mulazzo MTB Adventure trail.

Experience Gavedo by mountain bike

The Lunigiana Bike Area offers a signposted and well-maintained MTB trail in the municipality of Mulazzo, leading to the hamlets of Gavedo and Terceretoli. The Mulazzo MTB Adventure trail is 34 kilometres long. It is considered challenging both in terms of physical demands and technical difficulty. It is therefore suited to travellers who want to spend time actively in the landscape and plan a physically demanding route.

Along the MTB trail, the view extends from the watershed to the Golfo dei Poeti. This far-reaching panorama adds a scenic dimension to the sporting character of the tour. When planning your trip, Gavedo can therefore be combined with two different interests: exploring historic buildings and taking on a challenging route through the surrounding area.

Church and art in Gavedo

The Chiesa dei Santi Lorenzo e Donnino stands in Gavedo, which was historically the main centre of the fief of Groppoli. The present church was commissioned by the Marquises Brignole-Sale based on a design by the Genoese architect Matteo Vinzoni and completed in 1736. Its exterior design is already precisely characterised: the façade is neoclassical and austere, while the upper section features a central round window.

Inside, the church has a vaulted ceiling and is decorated with frescoes. The side altars also preserve their own art-historical connections. The left side altar in the nave features the Ligurian oil painting “Madonna con Bambino, Angeli e Santi” from the early 18th century. The right side altar displays the likewise Ligurian oil painting “Transito di San Giuseppe” from the first half of the 18th century. Alongside its architecture, the two works give the church interior an additional regional and historical dimension.

Palazzo Brignole-Sale and Castello di Gavedo

A view from 1727 shows Castello di Gavedo above the Geriola watercourse and Palazzo Brignole-Sale on Gavedo’s terrace. The medieval Castello is an imposing square structure in an elevated position. Together with the palazzo, it forms part of Gavedo’s historic architectural heritage.

Palazzo Brignole-Sale is a 17th-century building that was renovated by Matteo Vinzoni in the 18th century. In Gavedo di Groppoli, Vinzoni also designed the enclosure of the large marquis’ palace, which was built in the first decades of the 17th century to a design by the Genoese architect Bianchi. The complex includes a park opposite the Chiesa dei Santi Lorenzo e Donnino and a massive enclosing wall with four corner towers protecting the palazzo.

The palace’s internal and functional layout has also been preserved: a double-curved ramp on the bridge over the moat provides access to the piano nobile. The access ramp can also be seen in a depiction of the complex. The Palazzo has a cellar located well below ground level. These details make the complex particularly interesting for visitors interested in architecture, historic spatial sequences and the development of aristocratic residences.

Further information

For the broader travel overview: Mulazzo.

Further destinations

Other places within the same destination:

Montereggio.