Discover Carrodano: Nature, Trails and Churches

Carrodano combines forested settlements with historic trails and religious buildings. These different local features can help guide your choice of hotel: you can weigh up whether nature, history or road access matters most for your trip. Carrodano is one of the municipalities in the Montemarcello-Magra-Vara Regional Nature Park. Its three main settlements are set amid forested surroundings along the traces of ancient trails.

Natural surroundings and trails

The Carrodano area has nature trails prepared for outdoor activities, particularly mountain biking. If you are planning a bike ride, check the local trail conditions beforehand. The Borghetto–Madonna di Roverano–M. Pastenelle–Punta Leccio route includes a 3,954-metre section in Carrodano.

Getting there by road

The SS1 Via Aurelia state road connects Carrodano with Deiva Marina to the west and Borghetto di Vara to the south. Carrodano is also accessible via the Carrodano-Levanto motorway exit on the A12. For those travelling by car, both the state road and the motorway exit are useful reference points. Check current road conditions and possible roadworks or closures before setting off.

Historic trails and places

Traces of ancient trails extend beyond the settlements. The ancient route linking the Spezzino and the Genovesato followed the Torrente Malacqua, crossed the Passo del Bracco and continued towards the Val Petronio and Sestri Levante. The ancient Santo Spirito hospice stood on the right bank of the Torrente Malacqua. The medieval bridge over the same stream lies on an old Via Romea. By a decree issued by Frederick I Barbarossa in 1186, Carrodano Superiore came under the rule of the noble Malaspina family.

Churches and local sights

The Nostra Signora di Roverano sanctuary in Carrodano has a Latin-cross floor plan, a single-nave main body and a dome above the crossing. The crossing is where the church’s naves intersect; the dome sits above this central point of the cross-shaped floor plan. The parish history of the Church of San Bartolomeo in Carrodano Superiore dates back to 1516. The Church of Saints Andrea and Aurelius in Ferriere was built by the Fieschi family beside their palace in the 17th century.

The Church of Santa Felicita stands in Piazzetta Ovale di Santa Felicita; the square itself is one of Carrodano’s sights. The church houses a processional group weighing more than six quintali, depicting the martyrdom of the saint and her seven children. The Church of San Giovanni Battista in Mattarana is another sight in Carrodano. Just outside the centre of Mattarana, beside the Statale Aurelia, stands an artistic bronze fountain dedicated to Gino Bartali and Fausto Coppi.

Discover more destinations: Montemarcello, Lerici, Cembrano, Deiva Marina, Casale, Colombiera-Molicciara, Lavaggiorosso, Portovenere

For the main travel overview: La Spezia.