VAL NEVA. Ilaria del Carretto's path from Zuccarello to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Italy's most beautiful villages.

One of the most interesting paths of the Savona hinterland that allows us to understand the other side of Liguria, the more authentic one, the one linked to the civilization of vine and oil, the one of the stone villages.

Walking along a beautiful mule track connecting two beautiful inland villages: Zuccarello e Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, we will find out together who was the beautiful Ilaria del Carretto, immortalized by Jacopo della Quercia in the magnificent funeral monument preserved in Lucca Cathedral. We walk along part of the Salt Street, system of ancient trade routes between Liguria and Piedmont, and we visit two beautiful medieval villages, which tell a story of wars and control of these important communication routes. The surrounding landscape is wonderful in every season.

We start our walk from the historic center of Zuccarello characterized by old houses and a long arcade. One of the architectural jewels of the village is the beautiful single-arch bridge that crosses the Neva River. At the end of the village we take the mule track that in a few steps leads to the Zuccarello Castle and from here through strips planted with olive trees and stretches in the forest we come to Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena. The village is noticeable from afar. Perched on a rocky spur, it is one of the most scenic villages in Liguria. It is often poetically referred to as a stone flower, because all its houses are leaning one on top of the other, like the corolla of a flower, against the mighty medieval castle that dominates the village. Walking through its cobbled streets, its dark carruggi is a real experience that takes us back to the lost atmospheres of a distant time.

We are in the land of the Marchesi del Carretto, one of Italy's greatest feudal families, which was able to stand up to far more powerful neighbors such as the Savoy and the Republic of Genoa, extending its rule over the entire Western Riviera. The castle of Castelvecchio remained one of its symbols for centuries, even though it was severely damaged in 1672 in the clash between Genoa and the Savoy in which the famous mercenary took part Bastian Contrary. Today the castle is privately owned. The hamlet is beautiful in any season, but in autumn when the red vines encircle the hamlet's houses it is a true wonder. The cosy atmosphere of the hamlet, which is the ultimate expression of the combination of nature and architecture, makes it a favorite destination for sought-after tourism, away from mass destinations..

We also recommend our guided tour of Zuccarello and Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena

NB. For organized groups arriving by bus, only part of the trail can be done. The bus can drop us off in Zuccarello and pick us up in Castelvecchio or the other way around.