Arnasco is a charming municipality from the scattered hamlets located about 80.0 kilometers from Genoa in the Riviera di Ponente situated in a picturesque valley that winds above the beautiful Alassio at the lower mountain ridge of the summit of Castell' Ermo overlooking the fertile plain of Albenga in an area where olive groves and vineyards intertwine in picturesque hilly landscapes on the slopes of Montenero and Monte Croce di Arnasco.
This territory where the Mediterranean and the captivating inland of Liguria meet, as if by magic always enchants the visitor who, once he arrives at destination, discovers, in addition to the infinite natural and historical beauties of the area, the prestigious, refined Olive Oil that has marked an era in terms of traditions and quality.
Arnasco was a center already known in the Roman Imperial era for the trade that developed from the Ligurian Sea to Piedmontese lands and then had flourishing historical stages over the centuries under the influence of the legendary "Superba", the Republic of Genoa, absorbing the culture of the largest center of the region.
In a very pleasant walk you can discover Arnasco starting with the hamlet of Bezzo where stands the Cazulini Castle erected in the 14th century by a noble family of Albenga, today restored and in excellent condition, closely recalling the medieval structure that was with a solid wall and defensive tower
Continuation with the eighteenth-century Oratory of Saints Cosma and Damiano with splendid baroque lines and from there you will enter the historic core of Arnasco crossing via Strada Provinciale 35 admiring the murals that some artists of the 900 executed in this Ligurian village.
A short distance away stands the beautiful Parish Church of Our Lady of the Assumption dating back to the sixteenth century, a building with a very sober Baroque façade but boasting a suggestive bell tower with a raised spire in the back of the complex.
Inside, in a beautiful Renaissance altar, you can appreciate a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary and the seventeenth-century marble tabernacle made by Gaggini as well as a painting of the 600 depicting the baptism of St. John the Baptist.
In front of this religious building is the Oratory of San Bartolomeo built in medieval times, known to be the oldest building of Arnasco although today it shows a Baroque façade.
Afterwards you can stop in front of the remains of the Castle which was a fief of the Del Carretto Lords since the 13th century.
On a hillside at 500.0 meters above sea level you can admire the Fort of Rocca Liverna, a defensive structure of the 800 erected by the Savoy Kingdom on the ruins of the Castle of Rivernaro as a sighting outpost on the plain of Albenga.
After the visit you can visit a company dedicated to the cultivation of the famous Arnasca Olive, a fruit derived from the endemic pinata of the Arroscia Valley, a picturesque valley overlooking the beautiful seaside resort of Alassio producing a very refined extra virgin olive oil.
The origins of the first crops were already active in Roman times and then during the governorship of the Republic of Genoa, continuing with very good profits until today when an Olive Cooperative was founded in 1984, the only one to produce Arnasca and Pignola extra virgin olive oil with 500 quintals per year.
This pool of companies was created with the intention of keeping alive the production of a legendary local product and also with the spirit of fighting depopulation by using culture as a means of transmission for the new generations, inviting them to work in oil mills and oil mills in this area of Savona and not abandon their native land.
This product of considerable value with an unmistakable bitter flavor with an aftertaste reminiscent of pine nuts with a vivid green, robust that is suitable for creating a refined and sublime Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
The production is using traditional original methods and processes such as selection, crushing, stone grinding, cold pressing in the mills, kneading at 25 degrees for no more than 30 minutes and finishing without preservatives.
An important aspect is the extraction phase that takes place as in ancient times with the traditional pressing by means of pressure discs on the olive paste.
This operation will generate the leakage of a liquid then mixed with water and the addition of doses of oil which will then be filtered and divided into two products, a solid one called "Virgin Pomace" and the other equivalent to a thick and oily must that will be transferred into tanks keeping it at rest separating the oil from the water from the vegetation water by settling disposed of then following the protocols in force by the laws in force.
The characteristics of this oil with a clear, limpid hue, a refined, fruity flavor and immediately on the palate very pleasant but at the same time vigorous and intense with few similarities with the delicate, suave and prestigious Taggiasco Olive Oil produced a few tens of kilometers away in the province of Imperia.
Arnaschese Extra Virgin Olive Oil oil is very versatile, ideal for the preparation of the famous pesto, perfect for seasoning fish, in particular stockfish, sublime in mixed salads, stuffed, on toasted bread and bruschetta, excellent raw on pasta with the classic recipe garlic, oil and chilli pepper and superb as a basic ingredient in the preparation of sauces.
Afterwards time for your lunch with a choice of first courses between Ricotta Ravioli with Pesto or Tagliatelle with Wild Boar Sauce, second courses between Ligurian Rabbit or Mixed Fried Squid and Shrimps.
After your lunch I suggest you visit the Church of San Pantaleo in the hamlet of Menosio,which preserves an ancient brass crucifix inside, and admiring the Ture de Davi', a stone tower dating back to the 18th century that is said to have been built by the local shepherd Davide Badoino using the "dry stone wall" technique.
Visiting Arnasco is a splendid experience, the Ligurian landscapes fascinate at first sight, sea, hills, nature, historical places and typical products as in this case the Extra Virgin Olive oil of Arnasco are all together a magnificent combination to enjoy tourism.
Link : https://www.provincia.savona.it/comune/arnasco
Where to Stay | Recommended Accomodation
Apartment Olivo by Interhome
Claudia's House
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