Civezza

Civezza lies on a hilltop hidden among the Mediterranean vegetation. This mediaeval town in the Rio San Lorenzo Valley has narrow streets typical of towns in the Imperia hinterland area; its houses are built up around the two remaining towers of the five that originally defended the inhabitants from pirate raids.

Because the town was so close to the sea (the town stands just a few kilometres at an altitude of only 225 metres from the mouth of the San Lorenzo river) it was constantly raided by the Frassineto pirates.

The bell tower of the church of San Marco peeps out from the olive trees. The church dates from the fifteenth-century but was embellished in 1783 during the restoration work carried out by Carrega, the architect who re-organised the interior into a single nave and added ornamental stucco work to both the bell tower and the façade. The church holds a statue of the Madonna dated 1645 and two paintings by Martinelli. As you leave the church, a short walk brings you to the oratory of San Giovanni, which for a long time was used as a priory.

Olive-growing and the production of olive oil have always been the major economic resources of the territory: at one time there were many olive presses in use in the area. The ultra-modern multi-purpose congress centre was actually built from a fifteenth-century oil-mill. You can appreciate the beauty of the hills during excursions to Torre Pamponi, Monte Faudo and other nearby locations.