Renting a vehicle is the way to go . It offers the opportunity to explore the village in comfort.
Zuccarello is a village in the Ingauno hinterland and it has a population of less than four hundred inhabitants. Taking the exit on Provincial Road 582 at the Albenga motorway , it can be reached in 20 minutes . Its certainly one of the most majestic villages in Italy, its stone dwellings, arches and wooden gates are a testament to this. The word Zuccarello has ancient origins, it is derived from from Zucco or Zuccaro, which simply means rounded hill. The winding streets , the arcades and traces of ancient workshops will also evoke scenes of times past. You absolutely cannot afford to miss this . Think of it as being whizzed back to the medieval era.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Zuccarello was founded in the mid-13th century by the marquises of Clavesana, who vanquished the seat the Neva valley from Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena. The walls around the castle protected the Zuccarello people from outside invaders, but of course, its economic wealth attracted a lot of invaders. Acquired by the Del Carrettos, Zuccarello made it the capital of their marquisate.In the early 17th century it was then ceded in part to the Savoys, violating the right of pre-emption recognised to Genova. This action resulted in a war that was settled by Emperor Ferdinand II with the confiscation and auction of the territory to Genova in the first half of the 17th century. Following the decline of Genoa, the Napoleonic interlude and the annexation to the Kingdom of Sardinia by the Congress of Vienna, no further significant events were recorded.
THINGS TO SEE IN ZUCCARELLO
Have you already planned a visit to the village of Zuccarello, but haven’t yet decided how you will reach your destination? Renting a vehicle is by far the best alternative.
Zuccarello offers a large number of historical elements that should definitely be visited. These include the parish church, the fortified town gates, the castle ruins, the Romanesque bridge, the arcades, vintage shops and much more. There is also parish church of St Bartholomew which has attracted a lot of tourists in the past . It has ancient origins, although its existence is only documented from 1321. It houses paintings which date back to the 15th century . The Virgin and Saints by Orazio De Ferrari and the wooden statue of the patron saint by Paolo Olivari are kept there. The town gates open between the town walls and buildings; the most important are the Soprana and Sottana gates. In addition, the Porta del Ponte and Porta del Mulino gates are still intact.
Zuccarello castle became an important military strategic point over the years, so much so that it suffered two sieges, which led to its decline; from then on, in fact, the castle has been in a state of neglect. The Romanesque bridge is a major point of interest , its old yet intact and retains its old, romantic charm. The porticos of the village have an architectural design of medieval trading villages. .Other attractions include the minotaur, the good arrival step and the flogging column.
