Marta: Historical Traces and Active Ways

Marta combines historical traces with distinctive route features. In 1632, the Santa Marta Oratory was part of the Santo Stefano parish. Marta had already existed in the area around today’s hamlet since 1153. These two dates refer to different historical points of reference. The oratory and today’s hamlet thus provide two concrete anchors in the history of the place.

Historical Traces and a Distinctive Landscape

The bell tower of the church dedicated to Saint Marta is particularly striking. It is a defining element of the landscape; because of the church’s elevated position, it stands out especially along the village situated on the hillside. The tower is therefore one of the strongest features if you want to understand Marta’s character through its landscape. Its impact results from the interplay of the tower, the elevated church and the hillside setting.

The ancient site “Funerary Monuments of Iulia Augusta Road” is also located in the vicinity of Marta. Together with the oratory, the church and its bell tower, it offers a view of different historical layers. This makes it possible to consider the oratory, the church with its bell tower and the ancient site as separate points of interest for a day focused on culture.

Hiking with Different Route Features

The Villanova d'Albenga–Albenga hiking route climbs from the Nostra Signora delle Grazie sanctuary to the hamlet of Marta. After Marta, a route follows the gas pipeline corridor to the provincial road to Testico. For planning purposes, the ascent to the hamlet and the subsequent stretch to the provincial road can be considered separately. Those who mentally divide the tour into stages can treat the climb and the subsequent passage to the provincial road as two different types of route.

The Torre Pisana–Garlenda circular hike reaches Marta via paths between dry-stone walls and olive terraces. From the church in Marta, this circular hike descends on a paved road towards San Rocco. Those interested in cultural landscapes encounter both the terraces and the change in road surface here.

Cycle Tours between Heights and the Riverbank

One cycle tour climbs Monte Pisciavino, which is 600 metres high, and then descends on a singletrack to the hamlet of Marta. From the cemetery in Marta, the cycle tour continues along another singletrack and a gravel road to the riverbank. The cycle tour connects the 600-metre-high Monte Pisciavino with a singletrack, a gravel road and the riverbank.

Christmas Displays in Marta

A nativity scene was created in the recreation area of the hamlet of Marta. At the recreation centre in the hamlet of Marta, religious displays and workshops for children were offered as part of a local Christmas presentation. The nativity scene and the local Christmas presentation complement the historical and landscape themes with an explicitly Christmas-related focus.

For the overarching travel overview: Villanova D'albenga.