Carbuta – Parish History and Hiking Trails

Carbuta brings together two distinct themes to help you plan your trip: the history of the parish and the Santo Bambino di Praga, as well as named hiking and waterfall trails. If you are looking for a hotel in Carbuta, these highlights can help you tailor your trip to your interests. The specific points of interest range from dated events at the Church of San Martino to routes with stated lengths and difficulty levels.

Church and History of Carbuta

The Chiesa di San Martino in the hamlet of Carbuta is listed as a protected immovable cultural asset. The parish of Carbuta was established on August 3, 1465, after being separated from the parish of San Nicolò in Calice. The church in Carbuta was rebuilt and dedicated to San Martino; it was consecrated on May 21, 1707. The founding of the parish and the consecration of the church therefore mark two different milestones in the local history.

To understand the timeline of the history of the Santo Bambino di Praga, it is important to distinguish between the image and the statue: an image was placed on a side altar in the Church of San Martino in 1912; the statue did not arrive in Carbuta until November 6, 1919. On January 31, 1920, it was placed on the altar prepared for it, and the following day it was carried in a procession through Carbuta. In 1922, August 25 was established as the feast day of the Santo Bambino di Praga. On October 18 of the same year, the founding of a confraternity dedicated to him was approved. This sequence links an early reference from the church interior with the later, precisely dated events surrounding the statue.

Hiking Trails and Waterfalls

Different route details are available for comparing two named trails. A bulletin dated August 14, 2024, lists the Anello di Canto e Cascate rio Carbuta as a 2,311-meter-long trail in the municipality of Calice Ligure. A route description prepared in February 2025 gives the Carbuta–Rifugio Siri–Colle di Cravarezza–“Base Nato” route as 7.8 kilometers each way, with 740 meters of elevation gain. It rates the route as moderate to difficult and marks one section as suitable for experienced hikers. When comparing them, you can take the route length into account and, for the second route, also consider the elevation gain and difficulty level.

Another description prepared in February 2025 places the start of the Carbuta–Rifugio Siri route above the chapel in Carbuta. Behind the parish church of San Martino, it initially follows the water pipeline, first along a wide path and then through shady woodland. The route also passes the Cappella della Madonna delle Grazie, also called “Due di luglio,” as well as a viewpoint. The chapel, church, pipeline route and woodland section provide several clearly named landmarks along the way.

The trail to the Cascate del Carbuta follows the Torrente Carbuta. A route description prepared in February 2025 mentions a pair of small waterfalls first, followed by a larger one and then another smaller waterfall. This sequence makes the waterfalls a landscape highlight in their own right, alongside the historic sites and routes with stated distances.

Seasonal Festival and Mountain Biking Trails

Ferragosto a Carbuta is a seasonal festival. In 2026, it reached its 54th edition; the first edition was held in 1970. Mountain biking trails in the Pian dei Corsi and San Rocco di Carbuta area are also part of Calice Ligure’s outdoor trail network. The mountain biking section was listed as completed there in autumn 2024. The named highlights thus range from church history and a seasonal festival to hiking trails, waterfalls and mountain biking.

Discover more destinations: Ellera, Albisola Superiore, Noli, Albissola Marina, Stella, Pallare, Ceriale, Dogli

For the broader travel overview: Savona.