The old castle takes its name from the mountain rising above it, up to 1142 m.
History • 9th cent.: during this period the castle is built along the route that links the western Ligurian coast with the fertile Piedmont plains across the hill of San Bernardo; a necessary route for merchants, pilgrims and armies. • ca 1100: the castle, in Carolingian times included in Arduinica marca, or frontier region (the area from Ventimiglia to Turin), passes with Bonifacio del Vasto, founder of the Clavesana family, to the Aleramica marca, which stretches from Savona to Monferrato. It is the main center of military defense in the valley until 1248, the year of the founding of Zuccarello. • 1326: the fief of Castelvecchio passes by marriage from the Clavesana to the Del Carretto family and is included in the Terziere del Finale (the region from Savona to Finale Ligure ruled by the Del Carretto marquises since the 12th century). • 1397: Carlo I Del Carretto (the father of Ilaria) cedes to his brother Lazzarino his Finalese property in order to establish a separate marquisate. Taking the title of First Marquis of Zuccarello, Carlo moves the seat of the marquisate to the castle of Zuccarello, causing the decline of Castelvecchio. • 16th-17th cent.: the Del Carretto family once again takes up residence in the castle, during a difficult time in their history. Bitter inheritance disputes lead the marquis Giò Andrea in 1567 to sell one third of the fief to the Republic of Genoa, which purchases the remaining part in 1624, immediately setting off the reaction of the Savoys and their allies, the French. In the same year the Savoyard militias take possession of the castle, as they had done in 1614 during the Monferrato war and as they would do again in 1672. During this last siege, the northwest wing of the castle is bombarded by the Genoese artillery; the wing is still damaged today. A few years later Castelvecchio returns to Genoa. • 1746: a new assault on the castle, this time by the Austro-Piedmontese. With the fall of Napoleon, Castelvecchio follows the fate of Liguria, becoming part of the Kingdom of Sardinia. • 1951-53: about fifty homes in the old village are demolished by a landslide.
White framed windows and antique outdoor ovens
Castelvecchio is the oldest and the prettiest of the walled villages in the Val Neva, encircling the castle towering above it. The castle was built by the Clavesana family in the 11th century, when the area was called Vallis Cohedani, a mysterious place name that identified one of the main "salt roads" linking the Piedmont plains to western Liguria with the trading of olive oil, wine, wheat, and timber. After obtaining the imperial investiture of the fief, the Del Carretto family left their mark on Castelvecchio as well as on the rest of this part of Liguria.
The castle reflects the proud character of these mountain nobles who were able to withstand much more powerful neighbors such as the Savoys and the Republic of Genoa. It is reached by climbing up the narrow winding streets branching off from the main road.
The family living there today did the restoration work on the castle that has given it a new life.
The village is characterized by the old stone houses, the doorways in tufa stone, the roof terraces, the lofts with arched ceilings (vîsà) used to dry figs and mushrooms, the ovens protruding from the walls of the houses, where bread was baked for the community, and the white window frames, which recall designs from the Alpine-Provencal area.
The fortress-houses, connected by anti-earthquake arches over the inner streets, blend well with the Mediterranean look of the roof terraces, which perhaps preserve something of the village's origins: apparently the first settlers came up here from the coast to escape from Saracen raids. Among the houses perched at the foot of the castle is that in which Björn Afzelius composed his songs.
The Church of the Assunta was remodeled in the Baroque period, although it has preserved the onion-dome bell tower of the original building.
The Oratory of the Disciplinanti stands on Piazza della Torre, where once upon a time the gallows was raised. Following the road that leads to the cemetery, one comes to the hill upon which the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie is built (17th century). From here there is a very beautiful view of the village and the landscape, dominated by the gardens cultivated next to the houses.
There are many old farm houses in the municipal territory, once owned by the marquis and today a silent testimony of the difficult, toilsome rural life.
Local Products
Castelvecchio lies on the Trail of Wine and Olive Oil from the Alps to the Sea.
Therefore the "first pressing" extra virgin olive oil, cold pressed often with heavy millstones, is the main product from the Ligurian hinterlands belonging to the district territory of "Ingauna" mountain community.
There is also wine, naturally, which in this area may have the heady nuances of Pigato (a great autochthonous grape variety), the delicate fragrance of Vermentino, or the blackberry and cherry notes of Ormeasco, exclusively from the Arroscia valley.
Finally, we must not forget the aromatic herbs that grow profusely in the Ingauna valleys.
Local dishes Fresh raviolini with borage and spelt soup.
The Name
