Orco Feglino: Rocky Landscapes and Local History

Orco Feglino brings together historic buildings, archaeological traces and a landscape of limestone cliffs. If you are looking for a hotel for a stay here, you can get a sense of the destination through its varied cultural and outdoor attractions: from churches and fortifications to named trails and rock formations.

Location between ridges and valley floor

Orco lies on a ridge between the Sciusa and Aquila valleys. Feglino is situated on the valley floor beside a stream. The Rocche Bianche provincial protected area also extends into the municipality. The Via delle Rocche Bianche lies within the municipality and runs from the municipal centre to the hamlet of Orco. The ridge, valley floor and names of the valleys provide different geographical reference points to help you find your way.

Churches, fortress and village history

The Museo del Territorio is housed in the former Oratory of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Orco. The Church of San Lorenzino dates from the 12th to 14th centuries and contains frescoes from the 15th and 16th centuries. Here, medieval church architecture and later wall paintings come together.

The ruins of the fortified Castrum Arche, including a large square tower, remain on San Lorenzino hill. Orco’s early medieval Castrum can be seen in the Parco Archeologico di San Lorenzino and was part of the defensive system of the Marquises of Finale. In Feglino, the parish church of San Lorenzo was renovated in the Baroque style in the 19th century. Boragni also tells a story of protection and defence: local farmers built the fortified village to protect themselves from Saracen raids.

Rock formations and trails

The Dolmen della Strapatente is a megalithic structure dating from the Bronze Age. A large horizontal slab of Pietra del Finale rests on five smaller stones. The Grotta dei Balconi is considered an almost natural arch lined with dry-stone walls. These varied forms make the surrounding landscape as interesting to explore as its historic buildings.

Orco Feglino is part of the Finale Outdoor Region. The limestone walls are used for climbing. You can reach Ciappo delle Conche on foot or by bicycle from Orco or from the San Bernardino plateau. This gives you two different starting points and two ways of getting there.

The Arma Strapatente circular trail starts at the first bend in the road from Orco and leads to a cave about 200 metres long. In the area around Orco Feglino, it passes through woodland along the Boragni climbing crags and reaches the Grotta Strapatente. Check current trail conditions before setting out, as they may change.

Routes and local produce

The Val di Nava e le Grotte Passanti route starts in Orco Feglino near the Church of San Lorenzo. To reach the route, take bus line 34 from Finale Ligure station to the terminus, Chiesa di Orco, in Orco Feglino. Check the connection again before travelling.

Local agriculture includes vineyards that produce Lumassina and Barbarossa wines. Along with the churches, the Castrum and the distinctive rock formations, they help paint a picture of a destination whose character can be discovered through both its history and its landscape.

Discover more destinations: Mioglia, Savona, Carcare, Campochiesa, Testico, Toirano, San Pietro D'olba, Bormida-Genepro.

Back to the main travel overview: Savona.