Olivetta San Michele
Discover Olivetta San Michele: the westernmost municipality in Liguria
Hello everyone! Today I want to talk about a small town located in the province of Imperia, Liguria: Olivetta San Michele. With its 199 inhabitants, it is one of the smallest municipalities in Italy, but it has a natural beauty that absolutely deserves to be discovered.
Physical geography
The town is located in the Bevera river valley, on a hill that rises up to 292 meters above sea level. The view from the town is breathtaking: you can admire the surrounding mountains, including Mount Buletta, which at 1328 meters is the highest point in the Olvettan territory.
But it is not the only mountain that is found here: there is also Punta Monetto, Cima di Basavira, Testa di Cuore, Ciucco di Gerri, Cima Gavazzo, Mount Mergo, Mount Grosso and Mount Caviglia. Nature here is majestic and lush, with rivers, streams, and hills.
Origins of the name
The origin of the name Olivetta San Michele is uncertain: it seems to have been coined in 1890 with a royal decree, by combining the names of the two main localities in the current municipal territory. Some believe that the first name "Olivetta" derives from the presence of olive trees in the area, although the name would have gone through an interpretation error.
The toponym "San Michele," on the other hand, would be related to the cult of the archangel Michael, celebrated in Sospel, in the nearby French territory. Although it is not known for certain how the name originated, what is certain is the beauty of this town and its millennia-long history.
History
The first evidence of human presence in these lands dates back to the protohistoric era, when the Ligurians settled in the area. Subsequently, the territory was subjugated by the Roman Empire and later conquered by the Lombards, Franks, and Saracens.
It was in the 1000s that feudal power and the connection of the territory to France were consolidated. Olivetta San Michele was assigned to the Benedictine monks of Lérins, who spread the cultivation of olives, especially the prized Taggiasca variety.
During the Middle Ages, the village of Penna (together with other localities including Olivetta) was subjugated to the county of Ventimiglia and, subsequently, to the rule of Genoa.
Conclusions
This small town in Liguria possesses an extraordinary beauty, made up of hills, mountains, rivers, and streams that form a suggestive and engaging landscape. Despite its small size, it has an ancient history, made up of conquests, dominations, and cultures that have merged over the centuries.
Whether you are a nature or history enthusiast, I recommend taking a trip to Olivetta San Michele and discovering everything it has to offer. You won't regret it!
