Discover Gazzelli: Sundials, Nativity Scene and Pizzo d’Evigno

On the western façade of a dilapidated house in Gazzelli, traces of two old sundials are visible. They urgently need to be restored. Such tangible evidence provides a cultural gateway to Gazzelli and makes it clear that interesting discoveries can also be found in small details. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Gazzelli, you can incorporate the local culture into your travel planning right from the start.

Landscape between the sea, mountains and village paths

Pizzo d’Evigno forms the scenic counterpart to the village’s sacred and historical motifs. It is a grass-covered pyramid between the sea and the mountains, reaching an elevation of 989 metres at its summit. From Gazzelli, an approach route follows an old mule track up the hill above the village to the remains of the old San Bernardo chapel. The path then crosses the road between Località Proxi and Chiusanico and continues along a route marked with coloured signs and arrows to the summit.

This landscape also includes an unusual link to the area’s former mountain work: until the 1950s, hay bales were transported from Pizzo d’Evigno almost 700 metres downhill to Gazzelli’s square by means of a steel cable. For travel planning, this creates an appealing range of possibilities between a high-altitude trail, local history and the visible traces of everyday life in past decades. The described approach route and historical details appeal to different interests, without requiring you to limit your stay to a single activity.

Sacred places and special traditions

The Cappella di San Nicolao is located on the municipal road between Gazzelli and Diano Arentino. According to tradition, it is regarded as Gazzelli’s oldest sacred building and was probably constructed in the 12th century. The parish church Chiesa di Sant’Andrea of Gazzelli is located at Piazza della Chiesa 1 in Chiusanico. Together with the Santuario della Madonna della Visitazione, which is also known as Madonna degli Angeli and is located in the Gazzelli hamlet, these names form important reference points for anyone interested in religious buildings and local traditions.

During the Christmas season, the mechanical Nativity scene, with hundreds of small gears, brings scenes of rural life and present-day Gazzelli to life. It features, among others, farmers, shepherds, card players, olive mill workers, as well as women washing clothes and carding wool. On 2 July, the venerated wooden sculpture of the Madonna della Visitazione is carried during the religious celebrations from the sanctuary to the parish church of Sant’Andrea in Gazzelli and subsequently returned to the sanctuary in a procession. The Festa di N.S. degli Angeli is a square festival in Gazzelli held on the occasion of religious celebrations.

Holiday apartment in Gazzelli for days planned in different ways

Raineri has been producing and packaging extra virgin olive oil since 1910. This culinary accent expands the range of options between the landscape, local history, religious celebrations and the seasonal Nativity scene. For families with different interests, a holiday apartment in Gazzelli can therefore serve as a base for days planned at different paces: part of the travel itinerary can focus on Pizzo d’Evigno and its approach route, while another part can be devoted to the sacred places, the square festival or the Christmas Nativity scene. This allows you to align the location of your accommodation with your own travel plans – whether focused on exercise, culture, festival dates or the culinary aspect of olive oil.

More places for your travel planning: Torrazza, Borghetto D'arroscia, Pontedassio, Pigna, Santo Stefano Al Mare, Colle San Bartolomeo, Collabassa, Glori.

To the higher-level travel overview: Imperia.