Nasino-Borgo: Nature, Monte Galero and History

Alpine landscape in the upper Val Pennavaira

Nasino lies in the upper Val Pennavaira; the municipality’s alpine landscape consists of dolomitic rocks with marine fossils and high-altitude pastures. The SP 14 del Pennavaire runs through the municipality. This gives the area a clearly defined mountain landscape with a distinctive geological character. For those interested in geology, the dolomitic rocks with marine fossils form a specific landscape feature alongside the high-altitude pastures.

Monte Galero natural area

The Area protetta Provinciale Monte Galero includes the municipality of Nasino; the Area protetta Provinciale Castellermo - Rocca Livernà also includes the municipality of Nasino. Numerous rare or protected species are found in the Area protetta Provinciale Monte Galero. It is also home to the southwesternmost peripheral occurrence of Tetrao tetrix in the Alps. The area around the municipality of Nasino is a destination for mushroom gatherers.

Churches and historic sites

The present-day building of the Santuario della Natività di Maria Santissima dates from the 18th century. The Santuario has an octagonal floor plan with an adjoining presbytery and is crowned by a dome. The Cappella dell’Annunziata dates from the 15th century. The Chiesa parrochiale di San Giovanni Battista has origins documented from the 13th century onward and is the valley’s mother church. The religious buildings date from the 13th to the 18th century.

Archaeological traces in the valley

The Arma di Nasino contains fourteen successive archaeological layers. Two prehistoric burials were found in the Arma di Nasino; it also yielded archaeological finds dating from approximately 9,000 years ago. The caves in the Nasino valley were used by permanent or seasonal communities from the Late Epigravettian period through the Roman era.

Excursions and quiet discoveries

The Cappella di San Sebastiano can be reached from the Frazione Vignoletto via a mule track in just a few minutes. The short access time can be taken into account when planning a detour. The Ruderi della Cappella di San Pietro are a rural church in Località Giraia. In the ruins of the Cella of the Cappella della Madonna della Neve there is a fresco of the Madonna and Child with two saints, dated by an inscription at its base to 29 July 1617.

Nasino is a starting point for excursions to the 1,708-metre-high Monte Galero. The elevation of 1,708 metres is a specific reference point when planning an excursion in an alpine landscape. When choosing your accommodation in Nasino-Borgo, you can therefore distinguish between focusing your stay primarily on the alpine landscape and nature or on churches, archaeology and historic traces.

Discover more places

For further orientation, you can also explore Varazze, Dego, Cairo Montenotte, Pianazzo, Bossaneto, Cosseria, Erli and Mioglia.

For the broader travel overview: Savona.