Barbagelata is a summer hamlet at over 1,100 metres in the upper reaches of the Trebbia Valley, used by Genoese families as a mountain retreat since at least the 18th century. The name means "frozen beard" in dialect — a nod to the winters, which are considerably more severe up here than in the valley below. In summer, the meadows around the hamlet are lush and flower-filled, and the air temperature is reliably 10–15°C cooler than the coast.
The hamlet sits on the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, making it a convenient base for ridge walks without requiring an overnight stay. The accommodation is limited to a handful of agriturismo establishments, but the road up from Torriglia is paved and accessible by ordinary car. This is genuine mountain retreat territory — no tourist infrastructure, local food, and the simple pleasure of cool air and green hillsides after the summer heat of Genoa or the Ligurian coast.