Zuccarello: Medieval Lanes and History
Accommodation in Zuccarello
Zuccarello was founded by the Clavesana family in 1248. Two themes are particularly important when planning a trip: the medieval townscape and its connection to Ilaria del Carretto, who is associated both with the castle and with a hiking trail named after her.
Arcades, Gates and the Medieval Bridge
The town’s only narrow main street is lined with arcades and pillars in the Ligurian-Piedmontese style; trompe-l’œil paintings adorn the buildings. The street connects two towered gates, to which the defensive walls descending from the castle hill were attached. This connection makes it possible to understand the fortifications as part of the townscape, rather than viewing the castle in isolation. The medieval walls and arcades are listed in the Italian national heritage register; the entry was updated in 2017.
The bridge known as Ponte romano is in fact medieval and has a humpback profile. Its traditional name should therefore not be taken to indicate when it was built.
Church, Castle and Historical Connections
The medieval parish church of San Bartolomeo has an old stone bell tower with windows featuring two or three arches. The church also houses a painting by Orazio De Ferrari. The Oratorio di Santa Maria Nascente contains a wooden Christ dating from the 15th century. The town’s religious buildings thus bring together a range of architectural and artistic connections.
Zuccarello Castle is now a ruin; its remains rise above the town below. The best-preserved side tower bears traces of 15th-century frescoes. The castle is also associated with Ilaria del Carretto: she was born in Zuccarello and grew up in the castle there. Another historical connection is Palazzo Marchionale. In 1459, Giovanni di Calabria and the Marchesi del Carretto met there with the aim of sealing peace between Genoa and the Del Carretto di Finale.
Protected Areas and Hiking Route
Zuccarello is situated in the provincial protected areas of Castellermo-Rocca LivernĂ , Monte Galero and Poggio Grande, Monte Acuto, Valle Rio IbĂ . The Castellermo-Rocca LivernĂ protected area includes spectacular cliffs several hundred metres high on the right-hand slope of the Pennavaire, as well as peaks, rock towers, monoliths, deeply incised valleys and narrow ridges. In the Monte Galero area, the southern slope is wild and wooded, while the western ridge has rocky peaks. Poggio Grande, Monte Acuto, Valle Rio IbĂ includes significant fossil deposits as well as surface and underground karst formations.
The hiking trail named after Ilaria del Carretto leads from Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena to Zuccarello through olive groves and chestnut woods. Alongside the town’s buildings, this offers a specific route and the landscape along it as distinct points of interest for a trip.
A Culinary Tradition
A description from 2025 notes that local restaurants put together menus each year featuring Zuccarello pumpkins registered as De.Co. If you would like to include this culinary tradition in your travel plans, ask whether the menus will be available during your visit.
Discover more destinations: Pero, Capitolo-costa, Cairo Montenotte, Mioglia, San Pietro D'olba, Balestrino, Pallare, Carbuta
For the regional travel overview: Savona.
