Sciarborasca
Sciarborasca: a mountain village in the heart of the Ligurian Alps
Sciarborasca is a hamlet of the municipality of Cogoleto, located about 4 km from the town center, with a population of about 1,635 inhabitants. The village is located at an altitude of 213 m above sea level, at the foot of Mount Beigua massif, and is a renowned starting point for hiking along the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri.
Physical geography
The main mountains of Sciarborasca are Mount Sciguelo and Mount Rama, surmounted by Mount Beigua. The Rumaro stream crosses Sciarborasca at Ponte Arma.
History
The village of Sciarborasca has a long history. The Roman road that crossed the hills of Cogoleto passed through Lerca and Sciarborasca. In the past, the hamlet was an important transit point for the transport of timber from the upper valley of the Orba stream, bound for the shipyards on the coast.
Monuments and places of interest
The parish church of Sciarborasca, dedicated to Martyr Ermete, is a very important place of worship for the local community. The church was seriously damaged during World War II and was completely rebuilt in the 1960s by the late parish priest Don Francesco Pastorino, thanks to the contribution of the compatriots who had emigrated to the United States.
Another attraction of Sciarborasca is the "Typical Ligurian Farmhouse", a museum of peasant civilization that illustrates the living environments of Ligurian peasants of the past. The museum is located near the peasant museum of Sciarborasca, the ecomuseum, a pedestrian museum route set up by the Argentea mountain community with explanatory panels to discover the ancient peasant professions.
Culture
Education
As regards education, Sciarborasca has an elementary school, located in the center of the hamlet.
Events
Sciarborasca hosts several festivals and events throughout the year. On the occasion of the patronal feast of Martyr Ermete, which takes place on August 28th, the streets of the village are invaded by the typical procession with the wooden Crucifixes of the various Brotherhoods (Catholic Church). There are also stalls and a fireworks display as happens in Cogoleto for the feast of San Lorenzo. Before the patronal feast, there is an annual livestock show.
Near the Prato Rotondo Refuge and precisely in the Terrin locality along the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, at the Casa della Miniera, every year, on the third Sunday of July, the festival of the Cogoleto Alpine Group takes place.
Every year in the first 15 days of July, the "Social Festival" of the local Croce d'Oro public assistance takes place, a festival now famous throughout Liguria thanks to its excellent dishes and the presence of popular figures from the world of entertainment. There are comedians from Colorado Cafè and Zelig, including Enrique Balbontin and Maurizio Lastrico, the Night of Guitars show with the presence of the best Italian guitarists, Maurizio Solieri and Claudio Golinelli respectively guitarist and bassist of Vasco Rossi, and participation by the best Italian orchestras, including the Mirko Casadei.
Conclusions
Sciarborasca is a small mountain village with an important history behind it, but also with many modern attractions. In addition to hiking along the Alta Via dei Monti Liguri, Sciarborasca offers many opportunities to learn about local tradition and culture, thanks to its museums and typical festivals. If you are looking for a different destination from the usual, consider Sciarborasca.
