Borghetto Santo Spirito
Welcome to Borghetto Santo Spirito!
Hello everyone! Today I will talk to you about Borghetto Santo Spirito, a small town of 4,594 inhabitants located in the province of Savona, in Liguria. This city is rich in history and nature, and I am sure you will enjoy discovering more about it.
An enchanting territory
The territory of Borghetto Santo Spirito is located at the foot of Mount Piccaro, at an altitude of about 281 meters. The city is situated on the Riviera delle Palme, on the banks of the Varatella stream.
A city rich in history
Borghetto Santo Spirito has ancient origins dating back to prehistoric times. It is believed that the first inhabitants, belonging to the Ligurian tribe, had already chosen this area to live in. During the Roman era, there was a first settlement, as shown by the discovery of a gray stone altar in January 1871.
In addition, a Roman bridge was found, called "pontasso", part of the Julia Augusta road, located between Borghetto Santo Spirito and Loano.
The name "Santo Spirito" presumably derives from the name of a church and a hospice dedicated to that saint, founded by the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God in 1154. Over time, the structure passed to the monks of the abbey of San Pietro in Varatella.
The foundation of Borghetto Santo Spirito as we know it today dates back to 1288, when a group of families purchased large plots of land to create a new villa in the plain of the Varatella stream. In 1297, the city was surrounded by a wall and in 1292 it took the name of "Burgus Sancti Spiritus".
The historic center of Borghetto Santo Spirito
The historic center of Borghetto Santo Spirito was built following the medieval architectural style of Albenga, with two main longitudinal streets and minor side streets. There are four main gates that close the historic center: the Marina gate or "portino", the Levante or Loano gate or "del verzario", the Toirano gate and the western gate towards Ceriale. This historic center was reinforced in 1310 and contained 111 families.
Events and traditions
Borghetto Santo Spirito is famous for its events and traditions. Among the most important are the feast of St. John the Baptist on June 24th and the medieval historical reenactment "Burgus Medievalis", which takes place at the end of August. During the feast of St. John, a historical procession is organized with traditional costumes and "aveganza", an ancient game that consists of carrying a bird of prey on a fist to capture a bracelet that is thrown into the air.
Nature around Borghetto Santo Spirito
Borghetto Santo Spirito is surrounded by nature, with the sea on one side and hills on the other. Among the main natural attractions are the Beigua National Park and the Toirano Regional Nature Reserve. The Beigua National Park offers numerous trekking itineraries with splendid views of the Ligurian coast, while the Toirano Caves are a system of very ancient caves that contain important palaeontological and archaeological finds.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Borghetto Santo Spirito is a city with a long history and wonderful nature, which will make your stay unforgettable. Do not miss the opportunity to visit this beautiful town and discover its traditions and natural beauties. I am sure you will be fascinated!
