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Pietrabruna is a perfect point of departure for those wishing to
discover the roads and pathways around the sea, where the salty
sea breeze, rich with the aroma of broom, hovers over the olive
groves and vineyards to blend with the fragrance of lavender and
of the pines that herald the foot of the alps.
Ancient stone-built villages, representing history, legend and folklore,
form unbroken bands along the hillsides from which the very stones
themselves seem to blossom like mountain-flowers. This is a place
to be lived, where the warmth of its people is to be felt, where
its precious jewels represented by the local handicrafts, traditions
and the nature itself enchant.
For lovers of art and architecture, trekking and nature excursions
are conducted by skilled guides who will unveil the secrets harboured
in the uniqueness that is Liguria: chamois and marmots look out
over the sea from the 2000 metre altitude of the Saccarello mountains
, orchids and very rare flowers border the paths, caves bear silent
witness to ancient human habitation, the lands of witches and dragons,
ancient Roman parish churches with sumptuous Baroque altars are
just a stone’s throw away from the sea, for all to enjoy..
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SAN SALVATORE
Starting from the village bar, you continue down the narrow streets
and set off down the mule track. This will take you through olive
groves, and past trees and shrubs typical of the Mediterranean.
You arrive at the San Rocco oratory and continue along the mule
track, passing some stone barns and walking alongside high dry walls.
You eventually arrive at a small group of stone-built houses and
following the flat path you come to the Campocumin spring, surmounted
by a stone arch with clusters of maidenhair fern.
As the path rises the vegetation changes, and the olive trees give
way to oak. You reach the San Salvatore path with its small chapel,
within which are preserved the remnants of a cycle of late medieval
frescoes. From here, bearing south you rejoin the olive groves;
in the area known as Rocca, near to the village you will see an
oratory and will come across several large stills that are used
for the distillation of lavender. The trip lasts about three hours.
From San Salvatore, travelling along an unsurfaced road, it is also
possible to reach Castellaro, or continue to the “Sette Fontane”
mount and come down at Pompeiana, or go further into the woods to
reach Badalucco in the Argentina Valley.
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MOUNT FAUDO-MOUNT FOLLIA
In the town, before entering the car park where the town bar is
located, take a small road to the right, which in one hour leads
to the “Figarea” cross. From here, you continue through
the meadows and woods towards the great plateau known as “Bertolotta”.
After another hour you arrive at the “Bramosa” spring
on the slopes of Mount Faudo. It takes about a quarter of an hour
to reach its summit.
If however you want to climb Mount Follia, an important archaeological
site, once you reach the “Bramosa” spring, turn left
and follow a path in the middle of the meadow. After ten minutes
you reach Mount Follia.
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PIETRABRUNA-VENA PASS-COLLE D’OGGIA
Following the previous itinerary, having reached the “Bramosa”
spring, continue until you reach the tarmac road. Turn right, walk
for about 1km downhill, and on reaching a wide bend, take the path
on the left. This marks the beginning of a charming walk, which along
the peak, bestriding the Imperiese valleys and the Argentina Valley,
takes you, in about two hours, to the Colle d’Oggia. A pleasant
resting place during the journey is to be found at the small church
of the “Pistona” |
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THE TRAIL OF TWO BRIDGES
Thus is a picturesque round-trip excursion which starts at Pietrabruna
(see map), goes to the small church of Saint Brigida and returns to
Pietrabruna. In total it takes around three hours.
Leaving Pietrabruna, you set off along Via P. Borsellino, following
the tarmac road among the olive trees, anemones and decorative greenery.
Take the first turning on the left and continue along an unsurfaced
road, which rises at first and then levels off among the olive trees.
The road continues into the wood, and slopes down towards the “Martelli”
bridge. This bridge was built on the main route running from Dolcedo
to Pietrabruna. The route slopes upward amidst the olive trees and
passes the ruins of a house possessing numerous stone arches. From
this point a charming paved pathway leads to Santa Brigida. From here
you may go on to Civezza or to Dolcedo and Imperia, or even climb
upwards towards Mount Faudo.
To return to Pietraburna however, you go back along the last stretch
of path and continue straight on. When you reach a modern house you
will see the start of the mule-track. Walking through the wood you
reach the “Merea” bridge. Near this you find the hermitage
of pré Luigi, a hermit who lived here at the end of the 1800s.
A short way beneath the hermitage you can find some ponds among the
trees (see following excursion). Continuing on among the olive trees
and gardens you return to Pietrabruna. |
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THE SMALL LAKES.
About 3km from Pietrabruna, in the San Lorenzo al Mare direction
you come to a large building surrounded by a wall. This used to
be a military barracks. You may park here and continue on foot,
taking a small unsurfaced road on the left, just before the turning.
This road runs along the surrounding wall of the ex-barracks before
crossing cane fields and gardens. This road gradually narrows to
a path that leads to three magnificent small lakes, immersed in
wild vegetation. In the summer one may swim in the lakes and sunbathe.
The whole walk takes around 15 minutes and can also be done by bike
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