Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Medieval village in Savona Province, Italy
Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena is a stone village in Savona Province perched on a hillside 420 meters (1,380 feet) above sea level, with tightly built houses featuring white window frames and tuff stone gates. Narrow streets connect these buildings upward toward a castle that overlooks the settlement.
The Clavesana family built the castle in the 11th century as a fortification for this mountain region. In 1672, Genoese forces attacked the structure, causing damage that shaped its appearance for centuries to come.
The Church of the Assunta displays a blend of medieval stone forms and Baroque decorative elements throughout its interior, showing how this place adapted over centuries. Visitors can experience these layers of time directly when entering the sanctuary.
Vehicles cannot pass through the village since the medieval streets are too narrow, so you must park outside. From there, you can walk up the stone pathways and explore on foot.
The stone houses are connected with special arches designed to prevent walls from collapsing during earthquakes, revealing the practical knowledge of medieval builders. Visitors also notice bulges in the exterior walls that mark the built-in ovens inside each home.
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