Vobbia
Welcome to Vobbia
Hello everyone! Today I will take you on a discovery tour of Vobbia, a municipality with 371 inhabitants located in the Vobbia valley of the upper Scrivia valley, in the metropolitan city of Genoa, in Liguria. The territory of Vobbia is characterized by a peculiar orographic structure, consisting of a large mountainous area, surrounded by mountains, with decent flat and hilly areas in the center.
The territory of Vobbia
The municipality is crossed by the Vobbia stream, which is a right tributary of the Scrivia River. Among the peaks of the territory, there are Mount Buio, Mount Carmo, Mount Sopra Costa, Mount Riondo, Mount Cugno, Bric delle Camere, Castle Mountain, Mount Mortussa, Mount Lerta, Mount Cravi, Mount Bricco, Bric del Pra, Bric di Cravello, Alpe, Bric Il Castelluccio, Bric della Torre, Mount Bricchetto, and Bric la Crocetta. The municipality of Vobbia is part of the Antola Regional Nature Park, a protected area that boasts a very varied and interesting flora and fauna.
The history of Vobbia
The municipality of Vobbia was only established in 1903, separating from Crocefieschi, of which it had been a hamlet until then. Until then, it had followed the fortunes of this latter municipality. Vobbia's territory was formed by merging ancient assets of the abbey of San Colombano with the court of Clavarezza (now in Valbrevenna) and Noceto, dell'Vignole Borbera, and the Fieschi, becoming then a feudal possession of the Tortona Diocese. Later, in 1164, it became the property of the Malaspina family. The Marquisate of Gavi added the valley to its possessions until 1252, when the territory and the Castle of the Stone passed under the dependence of Opizzone della Pietra, lord of the Mongiardino Ligure fief in consortium with the local lords of the same name.
The salt road
Vobbia plays an important role in the history of the ancient salt routes between Genoa and the Po Valley. The lower Vobbia valley, from Isola del Cantone and Vobbia, has been traversed by the current road, tortuous and carved into the rock of the gorge, which preserves remarkable scenic aspects, some medieval road remains and the possibility of accessing the Castle of the Stone. This is an important presidium of medieval origin, which served to control commercial flows between the two areas.
How to get to Vobbia
To reach Vobbia, it is possible to cross the San Fermo pass, on the Ligurian Apennines at 1,129 meters above sea level at Mount San Fermo (1,177 m), which allows you to reach the Borbera valley and then the municipality of Cabella Ligure in the province of Alessandria. Alternatively, you can take the road that crosses the lower Vobbia valley, where the tortuous and carved road into the gorge is located.
Conclusions
Vobbia is a delightful place that is worth visiting. With its mountains, the Vobbia stream, and the Castle of the Stone, it has a very interesting history and natural heritage. Come and discover it!
