Beverino

Introduction

Description

On the stretch of the Aurelia that leads from Borghetto to Padivarma - and from here, with a diversion, to Beverino - immediately after the junction for Memola, in the stone wall on the right is the so-called 'fountain of the pope': it is said that in 1909 Pope Pius Vll stopped here to refresh himself during the long journey he was making to France. Having taken the diversions and reached Beverino, one can climb up Provincial Road No. 18 the hill, at the foot of which the original village of Beverino was born before the year 1000 at the very ancient church of San Cipriano; one thus reaches Beverino Castello, accompanied on the very short drive by a beautiful panoramic view. As soon as you arrive, of this village fortified by the Este family in the 10th century, you cannot fail to notice the remains of the ancient castle and the walls with the entrance gate. Returning towards the small hamlet of Padivarma, before crossing the bridge, you come to a small fork in the road that leads to Oltrevara. On the left, clearly visible, is the church on whose entrance portal is a bas-relief, possibly medieval, in sandstone depicting a blacksmith. Returning to the Aurelia and turning towards Pignone, one arrives at the junction for Corvara: here, right on the road, is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Trezzo (a name that means 'meeting of three roads') inside which there is a 1586 fresco of the Madonna and Child with Saint Lucia and Saint Apollonia. Opposite this small building is another well-preserved stone building: this one, in the Middle Ages, was a shelter for pilgrims passing through this area. Entering the village of Corvara, with its wall-like houses, one arrives at the 14th-century Church of St Michael Archangel: on the bell tower - which was once the defensive tower - one can see an animal head. Also worth a visit is the hamlet of Bracelii, which together with Padivarma and Castiglione Vara was a possession of the Bishops of Luni. All these hamlets are little jewels completely surrounded by greenery. But they have one characteristic in common with many other small jewels scattered throughout the valley: that of having been politically powerful and militarily very important possessions in the past.

Information

Area: 34.95 sq km
Altitude: 73m
Maximum elevation:
Number of inhabitants: 2400
Name in dialect: Beveìn
Inhabitant name: beverinese
 Patron Saint: Santa Croce (14 september)
Website: www.comunedibeverino.gov.en
Webcam:
Bordering municipalities: Borghetto di Vara, Calice al Cornoviglio, Follo, Pignone, Riccò del Golfo di Spezia, Rocchetta di Vara, Vernazza
 Villages and hamlets: Beverino Castello, Bracelli, Castiglione Vara, Cavanella Vara, Corvara, Padivarma