Valbrevenna

A village of the Apennines that is located in the valley of the same name in the upper basin of the Scrivia stream, it includes small scattered nuclei of medieval layout. The original activities related to grazing and agriculture are evidenced by the many mills that produced chestnut, broad bean and pea flours. The small villages were fiefs of the Spinola and Fieschi families, who built strategic castles there, including the Senarega Castle, which has been restored several times. Also in the hamlet of Senarega are the medieval bridge and the Church of the Assumption with massive Baroque bell tower, rebuilt in 1650 on an earlier building from 1248. In Frassinello there is an old hunting lodge belonging to the Fieschi family. Lastly, the Sanctuary of the Madonna dell 'Acqua at the hamlet of Molino Vecchio and the valuable Chapel of San Giacomo, in the hamlet of Mareta, erected in 1573 ,which presents remarkable fresh cycles in the barrel vault dating back to 1576, are worth mentioning. The aforementioned hamlet is also part of the Antola Regional Natural Park: one of the most enchanting areas of the Apennines and the Ligurian hinterland, thanks to the extraordinary panorama of the 1600 m Mount Antola and the activities of the nearby Brugneto Lake.