Balestrino is a small inland village set among olive groves in the hills behind the Riviera delle Palme. In the upper part of the settlement stands the castle of the marquis, an imposing fortified palace rebuilt in the 17th century with sturdy ramparts and period furnishings.
The hamlet below the castle, with its typical Ligurian-style houses, was abandoned after the village was declared geologically unsafe in 1953 and remains the most completely preserved ghost village in Liguria. Guided tours take you through the abandoned lanes, roofless houses, and the old church of Sant'Andrea, whose finest ornaments — two polychrome marble altars and a pulpit bearing the Del Carretto coat of arms — were moved to the newer church before the evacuation. The surrounding landscape is given over to olive groves and orchards. A short drive away, the Toirano Caves contain remarkable Paleolithic remains including cave bear skulls and prehistoric human footprints.