Holiday apartment in Ortovero: culture, Pogli and trails

Ortovero is characterized by agriculture, particularly the cultivation of roses and peaches. The Argille di Ortovero are sandy-clay deposits containing fossil shells from the Pliocene, the geological epoch of marine transgression.

Churches, Pogli and visible history

The parish church of San Silvestro is a medieval building with alterations from the 17th and 19th centuries. The Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista was built on the ruins of the 13th-century castle of the Clavesana family. From there, it offers a broad panoramic view over the Piana di Albenga. In the hamlet of Pogli, the parish church of Santo Stefano houses a polyptych by Pietro Guido da Ranzo dating from 1537, depicting Saint Stephen and other saints. Pogli also preserves the remains of battlemented towers belonging to a fortified village founded by Albenga in 1288 to protect the valley.

Frate Ave Maria in Pogli

A tour of the hamlet of Pogli connects places of particular importance to the life and spirituality of Frate Ave Maria. Each station has an information panel with a map of the area, the tour stops, and location-specific information and images. The panels also contain translations of Frate Ave Maria's thoughts in Braille. In the Frate Ave Maria Museum, panels present the most important stages of his life: his childhood in Pogli, his family, his meeting with Don Orione, his long period at the Sant'Alberto hermitage, his death, and the declaration of Frate Ave Maria as Venerable by John Paul II.

Nature trails and cycling routes

Throughout the municipality of Ortovero, there are nature trails as well as routes for hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking. Ortovero is also part of the “Pedala a Ponente” cycling tourism project. As part of this project, there are loop routes on mixed-surface roads with different distances. The “Anello di Ortovero” route has the route code GSVA222H1PE and a length of 3,290 metres. A trekking route between Ortovero and Vendone begins in Parco Don Armato on Viale Chiesa in Ortovero.

Processions, Pigato and regional products

Religious traditions are also part of the local landscape. The Giro delle Cappelle is a traditional procession on Maundy Thursday, organized by the Santa Caterina d'Alessandria Brotherhood of Ortovero. On Good Friday morning, the procession del Balzo follows an old path through Ortovero's clay deposits and reaches the area of Pogli. For wine enthusiasts, the Centro Enologico- Enoteca Regionale in Ortovero organizes annual events to promote Pigato. At the Viticoltori Ingauni cooperative at Via Roma 3, you can purchase its own selection of wines and other products.

More destinations to compare

If you would like to consider destinations besides Ortovero, you can find Tovo San Giacomo, Calizzano, Varigotti, Albisola Superiore, Cosseria, Laigueglia, Capitolo-costa and Finale Ligure.

For the higher-level travel overview: Savona.