ARROSCIA VALLEY

ARROSCIA VALLEY

The charm of the Arroscia Valley is enclosed in the beauty of landscapes with an alpine flavor, in the simplicity of the people and its “white cuisine” made of poor but nutritious ingredients.

Arroscia Stream arises first of all from the heights of the Guardia Pass at over 2.000 meters and then runs through the entire valley. At this point it runs again for almost 40 kilometers and then joins the Neva stream and creates the Centa river which flows into the Ligurian Sea at Albenga. The Arroscia Valley winds along its course, the last strip of Liguria and an obligatory passage to reach Piedmont.
Going up the valley starting from Ortovero to get to Col di Nava, it is immediately clear that over the centuries this has been one of the main communication routes between Liguria and Piedmont. The first section presents a gentle climb and, gradually, the landscape changes. Once in Pieve di Teco the climb becomes harder and in a few minutes you can get to Col di Nava and go down to Ormea, or go up to Monesi. From here take the Antica Via del Sale up to Limone Piemonte among the majestic mountains of the Ligurian Alps.
The Upper Arroscia Valley preserves one of the best preserved environments in all of Liguria. Here it is possible to admire not only unspoiled nature such as the beech forest of the Rezzo forest, the larch trees of the Bosco delle Navette, the spectacular Arroscia waterfalls, but also artistic features such as the splendid road that crosses Pieve di Teco and its arcades.

RANZO and VESSALICO

The real door of the Valley is Ranzo, a small village of just over 500 souls divided into a handful of hamlets. Ranzo is famous for the Taggiasca olive and Pigato wine, and for being the birthplace of the Guido family, artists active between the end of the 15th and the beginning of the 16th century.
A little further on is Vessalico, a village at the bottom of the valley that preserves numerous medieval buildings. In the surrounding fields the renowned garlic is grown, with an intense but delicate flavor, preserved in the typical braids, the “reste”.

PIEVE DI TECO

The capital of Arroscia is certainly Pieve di Teco with its history and traditions, but also nature.
Just look at the road leading to the village to understand the beauty of the Arroscia Valley, among expanses of vineyards and olive groves, which make wine and oil some of the products of local food and wine excellence.
In fact, today Pieve di Teco is a small village that has become a destination for conscious and curious tourism that comes here to see the historic center with its characteristic well-kept arcades, but above all to buy products of the highest quality.

PORNASSIO e COL DI NAVA

Going up the main road again, we arrive in Pornassio, the cradle of Ormeasco. The municipality is made up of hamlets including that of Col di Nava, the last Ligurian village before entering Piedmont. Nava’s history of Nava has always been linked to the viability and transit of the pass. The main link between Ponente Ligure and Piedmont still passes through this pass. Its strategic importance over the centuries is testified by the Forti di Nava: five structures built in different eras to control the pass. The Central Fort, located on the summit of Colle di Nava, is still preserved today in excellent condition and can be visited. The two moats with the two bridges that once served as drawbridges are very characteristic.

At this point, all you have to do is venture into the wonderful Arroscia Valley, to take a break from the beach and the sun and take some time to fully enjoy pure tranquility in this unspoiled nature.
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