Busalla between Villa Borzino and cultural history

Busalla brings together historic architecture, green routes and regional cultural themes. Villa Borzino and the Ex-Chiusa Path represent different aspects of the town; its churches and Antola Regional Nature Park complete the picture. You can decide which of these highlights should shape your stay by exploring the specific places and their histories.

Villa Borzino and the Festa delle Rose

Villa Borzino is located near the centre of Busalla, in the town’s largest park. The park entrance is on Piazza Emilio Borzino, opposite the railway station. The villa’s commissioner is also known, providing historical context: architect Giuseppe Crosa di Vergagni designed the building in 1919 for Emilio Borzino.

At the Festa delle Rose in June 2026, the Roseto di Villa Borzino was officially inaugurated. The Festa reached its 24th edition and took place from 13 to 14 June 2026. The programme included guided tours of the park and the villa’s rooms. Visits lasted 90 minutes and were available by advance reservation only. The Sagra delle Antiche Rose della Valle Scrivia also included a menu featuring the Antica Rosa della Valle Scrivia.

Science and events

Another event theme is the Festival dello Spazio. It was created in 2017 from an idea by Fabrizio Fazzari and Franco Malerba, and launched to mark the 25th anniversary of Malerba’s spaceflight on the STS-46 mission. The programme includes exhibitions, interactive demonstrations, astronomical observation experiences, science outreach shows and themed conferences. These different formats give the festival both a scientific and a cultural focus.

Walks and outdoor activities

The restored Ex-Chiusa Path offers a walk amid greenery, gardens and woods, just a few hundred metres from the town centre. It follows a historic canal that supplied water to Busalla’s mills and also provided water for the steam engines of trains on the Turin–Genoa line. Along the route, a present-day greenway meets the canal’s former technical function.

Piana Nardin offers a different setting for outdoor activities, with a fitness area, picnic tables and a barbecue area. The site’s amenities therefore include opportunities for both exercise and picnicking.

Churches, art and local history

The Santuario di N.S. della Bastia in Busalla was created by expanding an earlier rural chapel. Its history is linked to the discovery of a Marian figure around the middle of the 17th century. Near the Santuario, you can also observe the contact between the Antola marls and the Savignone conglomerate.

Busalla Castle is part of the town’s medieval history: it was built by the Spinola di Luccoli family and captured by the Genoese Guelphs in 1252. The present-day church of San Giorgio also offers concrete clues to the town’s architectural history. It has three naves and was expanded in 1828–1829 and again in 1903.

San Giorgio houses the painting “La Madonna appare a San Gaetano” by Pietro Raimondi. The presbytery contains two works by Giovanni Battista Carlone: “San Paolo e Plotilla” and “La Decollazione di San Paolo”. Its building phases, artists and artwork titles make the church a subject in its own right, alongside the history of the castle and the Santuario.

Busalla and Antola Nature Park

Busalla is part of Antola Regional Nature Park and is considered a starting point for various excursions. For planning your trip, this natural setting complements the stories of the specific places: you can explore Busalla through both its architectural and artistic history and its walking routes and nature themes.

Discover more destinations: San Colombano, Nascio, Savignone, Tiglieto, Campo Ligure, Uscio, Arenzano, Bogliasco

For the broader travel overview: Genoa.