Discover Tessi: history and culture

Tessi combines a clearly identifiable location with several historical connections. The town lies between San Saturnino and Bracco, directly above the motorway. When deciding whether Tessi is the right destination for you, the main points of interest are its history linked to Florentino Ameghino, a chapel dedicated to Saint Roch, and its documented connections with Moneglia. If you are looking for a hotel in Tessi, these themes may play a part in choosing your destination.

Location and getting your bearings

San Saturnino and Bracco are the two named reference points for locating the area; the motorway adds further context. Bus routes 742 and 962 are listed for Tessi. As routes and timetables can change, check the details before your trip and plan your journey according to the latest schedule. A cycling loop also includes Tessi: the Moneglia–Bracco–Incisa–Lemeglio–Moneglia route passes through San Saturnino and Tessi. It is described based on user contributions, so check the route and road conditions locally before planning to ride it. For your planning, therefore, take account of both the current bus timetable and local conditions on the cycling loop.

Florentino Ameghino: a connection to Tessi and Moneglia

One particularly specific connection is Florentino (Fiorino) Ameghino, who became an internationally renowned palaeontologist. His birthplace is in Tessi, on a street named after him; today it is privately owned. Public access should therefore not be assumed. Moneglia also honoured Ameghino with honorary citizenship, which was conferred by a municipal council resolution on 28 November 2025. His birthplace in Tessi and the municipal honour in Moneglia are two distinct historical connections: one concerns his birth, the other his later recognition by the municipality.

Chapels and historical connections to the area

Tessi has a chapel dedicated to Saint Roch. A heritage record compiled in 1999 classifies the Cappella di San Rocco in Moneglia as an 18th- to 19th-century votive chapel. The two details refer to different places: Tessi is associated with the dedication, while Moneglia is associated with the explicitly named votive chapel and its dating.

In Giustiniani’s Descrittione della Lyguria, Tessi is mentioned in 1537 as a “villa” of Moneglia. This is a historical place designation in a dated work; it explicitly associates Tessi with Moneglia. Another connection dates back to 1433: residents of Tessi were among those who called for the demolition of Moneglia’s parish tower to open up access to the town for the surrounding small settlements. Unlike the 1537 mention, this event describes a specific demand and Tessi’s role in it. The two dates are therefore easy to distinguish: in 1433, the focus is on the demand and access; in 1537, on classifying Tessi as a “villa” of Moneglia.

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For the main travel overview: Genoa.