Hotel in Ortovero

Rose plantations and peach orchards characterize this ancient agricultural settlement which rises on the right bank of the Arroscia river. Pigato wine can be found in Ortovero which is part of the Citta’ del Vino (wine producing towns). Its regional wine-making and wine cellar centre hosts annual events to appraise this product, which ,with Rossese and Vermentino, complete the series of wines from western Liguria.

Located at the bottom of the valley ,where in roman times there used to be a settlement called”Ortus Vetus” maybe exactly where the Pozzo area is today. Early information which is certain ,is that after the silence of the early middle ages, Ortovero belonged to the Marquis of Clavesana. Later, in 1341 it was granted as a feud to the Cazzulini who, after 10 years, gave it to the town of Albenga destined to become part of the Republic of Genoa. In 1763 it rebelled as a protest against excessive taxation and in 1797 with the establishment of the Ligurian Republic, Ortovero , together with Pogli ,declared itself an independent town. The entire village of Pogli is of great interest with its fortified structure ,quite different from that of Ortovero. This small village was founded by the town of Albenga to oppose the Cavesana family, it was a a sort of checkpoint along the Arroscia road for defence reasons, as Villanova and Cisano were years before.

The urban structure is of the military kind with its rectangular plan and its streets that cross perpendicularly. Five towers and part of the original surrounding wall can still be seen. In the area of Pozzo there are the ruins of the 1300 Clavesana Castle, preceded by the ruins of a tower and traces of an abbandoned village. The parish church of San Silvestro shows signs of restructure from the 20th century.; the chapel of the Immacolata dates back to the baroque period as well as the contemporary chapel of San Giovanni. Noteworthy is the medieval parish church of Santo Stefano with alterations of the 19th century. For sports lovers there are many trails and paths to do, on foot, on horseback or by mountain bike.