Pietra Ligure

Castrum Petrae" was the castle erected on a large rock by the Byzantines as a defence against the Lombards. Extending parallel to the coast, the town once belonged to the bishops of Albenga and later to Genoa. The Roman town of Pietra Ligure dates back to the first century AD, but there are signs of Neolithic settlement along the coast and of a pre-Roman settlement near Corti, in the direction of Giustenice.

Near the castle there is fifteenth-century Palazzo Leale Franchelli. The parish church of San Nicolò dates from the eighteenth century: the vault has frescoes by Antonio Novaro, while the painting of San Nicolò in the apse is by Giovanni Barbagelata.

A famous procession and a festival are dedicated to the patron saint. The other parish church of Nostra Signora del Soccorso dates from 1791, while the old town centre is the site of the seventeenth-century church of the Annunziata.

Pietra is a tourist and holiday resort, with hotels and attractions to suit all pockets and tastes.

Besides the facilities on the sandy beach (summer surfing school and an underwater environment ideal for diving), there are gymnasiums, tennis courts, football pitches, numerous swimming pools and a sports centre.

If you go into the Maremola Valley, you really must take a trip to the old town of Ranzi, which is divided into three districts. It grew up around the chapel of San Sebastiano, which was built by the Benedictines of San Pietro in Varatella around 1000. A splendid floral decoration called the "Star of Ranzi" can be seen during the Corpus Domini festival. As you leave the town and go inland, you will come to the "Ciazze secche" cork plantation, which is a protected area. If you climb a little higher, up to the countryside church of San Martino, you will see the ancient shepherds' huts, one of which is known as the "cabanun" and is built entirely of stone without mortar. At the refuge of Pian delle Bosse, you come to the crossroads with the Ligurian Alta Via.

Pietra Ligure was the birthplace of Nicolò Accame - poet, patriot and friend of Mazzini and composer of the Garibaldi anthem - and Cristoforo Accame, a famous wine connoisseur who is very popular with the inhabitants of Pietra.