Osiglia
©
Osiglia

Osiglia

Small Ligurian Alps village beside Lago di Osiglia, shaped by feudal history and chestnut woods.

Osiglia is a small agricultural centre on the Po Valley side of the Ligurian Alps, situated just upstream of the artificial lake that shares its name. The village has a long feudal history: it belonged successively to the Del Carretto lords of Savona, the marchesi di Monferrato, and finally Spain. Nothing remains of the marquis's castle but a few ruins. The parish church of Sant'Antonio is a baroque reconstruction.

The surrounding forests are the main attraction, and they draw large numbers of summer visitors for walking, fishing, and water sports on the lake, which hosts regional canoeing championships and regattas. Two spectacular chestnut trees in the surrounding woods — with girths of nearly three and five metres respectively — are minor local curiosities.

Guide

Getting There

Osiglia is roughly 25 kilometres inland from the Riviera coast at Finale Ligure, reached by a narrow mountain road that climbs the upper Bormida valley. The drive is slow but scenic, with switchbacks and stretches of beech and chestnut forest. There is no train station in the village; the nearest railway is at Millesimo or Calizzano, both of which require an onward bus or taxi.

In summer, weekend visitors from Savona and Genoa make the trip up for the cooler temperatures and the lake. The road is straightforward in good weather but should be avoided after heavy rain, when stretches can be affected by landslides.

Guide

Things to Do

Osiglia is a tiny mountain village whose main draws are its artificial lake and the surrounding chestnut forests. There is no major sight in the village itself — a small parish church, ruins of the old marquis's castle, and a quiet square — but the setting in the upper Bormida valley is genuinely peaceful and a good break from the busier coastal Riviera.

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