Pigna
Pigna, the small mountain village in Liguria
Hello friends! Today I will talk to you about Pigna, a lovely Italian town located in the province of Imperia, in Liguria. With only 747 inhabitants, Pigna can be considered one of the smallest towns in Italy, but it is definitely an irresistible destination for those who love mountain tourism.
The geography of Pigna
The municipal territory of Pigna is located in the mountainous part of the high Nervia valley. Crossed by the Nervia stream, it rises to an altitude of about 200-300 meters above sea level. In the territory of Pigna there are numerous mountain peaks, including Mount Pietravecchia (2039 m), Mount Grai (2013 m), Mount Toraggio (1972 m), Carmo Ciaberta (1768 m) and Mount Corma (1597 m).
The countryside surrounding the historic village is made up of dense olive groves, replaced at higher altitudes by chestnut trees and extensive coniferous forests. On the administrative border with Triora is the artificial basin of Lake Tenarda, a water resource built in 1963.
The history of Pigna
Pigna has a very ancient history, dating back to prehistoric times. The village was once a pago of the municipium of Albintimilium, the current Ventimiglia, and during the Roman Empire the Benedictine church of San Tommaso stood in that place.
In the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, the lords of the valley, the Lascaris of Ventimiglia, built a castle for defensive purposes, placed in a strategic position as it was located at the confluence of the road from Ventimiglia to Triora, thus connecting the coast with the Ligurian, Piedmontese and Nizzardo hinterland.
From the thirteenth century, the fief was subject to the rulers of Provence, who subjected it to Nice, erecting itself into a free municipality and entering into agreements for agricultural-pastoral lands with the neighboring municipalities of Castel Vittorio, Triora, Apricale, Dolceacqua, Saorgio and Briga Marittima.
Between the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, however, the community suffered conflicts between the Guelph and Ghibelline factions and contenders between the Governors of Provence and the Republic of Genoa.
In 1388, the Provençal governor gave the lands of Pigna to Amadeus VII of Savoy, as attested by an official document kept in the municipal archive.
Pigna today
Today Pigna is a peaceful and welcoming town, immersed in nature and far from the chaos of the city.
The old town of the village is well preserved, with numerous stone houses and winding alleys to get lost in. And then, of course, there are many activities to do: walks in the green, visits to local museums, tasting of typical Ligurian gastronomic specialties, such as the famous Genoese pesto.
If you love music, do not miss the opportunity to attend the "Pigna Jazz Festival", which takes place every year in the main square of the town and attracts nationally and internationally famous musicians.
Pigna is also famous for its thermal baths, the "Terme di Pigna", known since Roman times for the beneficial properties of sulphurous waters.
In short, Pigna is an unmissable stop for those who want to immerse themselves in the nature, history and culture of Liguria. Come and discover this small mountain village, I assure you that you won't regret it!
