Menosio: Hiking, Dry-Stone Walls and History

Menosio combines narrow paths with a landscape of meadows, Mediterranean scrub, dry-stone walls and olive trees. At the same time, buildings in the village and its immediate surroundings bring the area’s historical character to life through their forms and historical periods. This creates a destination where outdoor activities and cultural-historical themes come together.

Hiking between Menosio and Montenero

The Anello di Arnasco circular hiking trail begins in Menosio, climbs between dry-stone walls and olive trees, follows the ridge behind Arnasco to Montenero and ends back in Menosio. Its first section, leading to Torre di Davì, passes through meadows and Mediterranean scrub. The circular trail that begins in Menosio also leads to the entrance to Forte di Rocca Liverna. Menosio is known as a village with narrow lanes and colorful houses.

Via Cappella is a pedestrian connection between the houses of the hamlet of Menosio. In the area of Via Cappella, there are lanes that motor vehicles cannot use. Along the section through Menosio, at the level of a bend on Piazza A. Tomatis, turn north into Via Cappella. These specific route references provide a clear framework for finding your way locally without equating the lanes with a road accessible to vehicles.

Stone Structures and Historical Traces

The cone-shaped stone structure Torre di Davì is located near the hamlet of Menosio. It has an externally visible spiral staircase and was built at the beginning of the 20th century. Local legends and traditions attribute its construction to Davide Badoino, an emigrant who returned from France, and present it as an example of dry-stone wall craftsmanship. For the “Ture de Davì” in Menosio, the Cooperativa Arnasco has planned the creation of an open-air ecomuseum.

In the immediate surroundings of Menosio, Forte di Rocca Liverna, also known as Rocca Riverna, was built between 1881 and 1897 as a fortified complex consisting of two forts. The Cappella di San Pantaleone in Menosio is also documented for the period from 1624 to 1653. Both buildings point to different historical periods, without implying any present-day access or current use.

Olive-Growing Culture in the Municipality of Arnasco

In the municipality of Arnasco, the Museo dell’Olivo e della Civiltà Contadina displays more than 500 objects that reconstruct rural life in past centuries. The museum includes an oil mill dating from 1796. The regional olive-growing culture can also be described more precisely: in the municipality of Arnasco, Pignola is the predominantly cultivated olive variety; locally, it is known as Arnasca. This gives the routes between Menosio and Arnasco a tangible connection to agriculture and everyday life.

Arnasco and Its Early Territorial History

Around the year 1000, the territory of Arnasco, Menosio, Bezzo, Arveglio and Cenesi belonged to the Castellania di Rivernate or Rivernaro. It took its name from a castle that has since disappeared, located on the summit of Rocca Riverna or Liverna.

For further travel planning, you can also explore Millesimo, Testico, Piani, Zuccarello, Giusvalla, Castelvecchio Di Rocca Barbena, Varigotti and Andora.

For the broader travel overview: Savona.