A village among the chestnut woods, six stages to discover it!

The village

Calice al Cornoviglio has around a thousand inhabitants and sits at 400 metres above sea level, on a rise on the left bank of the Vara river, in the lower Val di Vara. The whole territory is mountainous, rising up to Monte Cornoviglio (1,162 m), the highest peak in the municipality.

The historic heart of Calice al Cornoviglio is the medieval village known as «Borgofreddo», which winds around the Doria-Malaspina castle.

In the hamlet of Madrignano, the Malaspina Castle towers over the houses of the village; in the 2010s it underwent a major restoration and conservation of the structure.

The Doria-Malaspina castle

1033

The castle is mentioned for the first time, as the property of Adalberto Malaspina.

1416

After several changes of feudal ownership, the castle passes to the Republic of Genoa, which assigns it to the Fieschi family.

After the Fieschi conspiracy

Charles V grants it to Andrea Doria. Under Placidia Doria it loses its defensive role and becomes a noble residence.

1772

It passes to Pietro Leopoldo, Grand Duke of Tuscany, who puts it to administrative use.

1993

After serving as the town hall, it becomes a museum complex.

Honey and chestnuts

Calice is part of the Città del Miele (Honey Towns) network. Its signature product is tree-heather honey: local beekeepers founded the Slow Food Community for it, and together with Mulazzo and Tresana created the Strada del Miele (Honey Road). At least six varieties are produced here, including chestnut, acacia, wildflower and honeydew, and the link with beekeeping is documented back to the early 19th century.

Behind the village, the upper Val di Vara is covered in chestnut groves. The typical variety is the brodasca chestnut, dark brown and small-to-medium sized: for centuries chestnut woods were a vital food resource in times of famine.