Pontedassio: Church Art, History and Food Culture

Pontedassio brings together church art and historical traces with a food culture shaped by old customs and distinctive baked goods. Villa Guardia and Bestagno, which are also part of the municipality, offer their own points of interest: an unusual wooden replica, an ethnographic museum and the remains of a medieval castle complex. The Sentiero dei Santuari adds a scenic highlight, winding between woods and olive groves.

Church Art in Pontedassio and Villa Guardia

The parish church of Pontedassio was rebuilt in 1880. It houses a triptych by Luca Baudo of Novara, dating from 1503. The Chiesa di Santa Margherita offers a different connection to the town’s historic character: it stands east of the medieval town centre, beside the oldest rows of houses in the historic centre along the Torrente Impero. In different ways, the artwork and the church’s location tell the story of the town.

In Villa Guardia, within the municipality of Pontedassio, stands the Chiesa di San Matteo, built between 1580 and 1606. Its wooden Cenacolo is a rare three-dimensional replica of Leonardo da Vinci’s Cenacolo. Since 2012, the group has been permanently housed in a small room on the right-hand side of the nave; it was made visible by reopening an archway. The Cenacolo is still used during Holy Week celebrations. It may have come from a woodcarving workshop that was active between 1470 and 1510 in the area between the Ligurian Alps and the Maritime Alps.

Bestagno: Museum and Castle Remains

The Museo etnografico del castello di Bestagno opened in September 2001. It occupies three rooms in the heart of the main Carruggio, a narrow street in Bestagno, and includes two former communal bakeries and a wine cellar. Tools once used by local farmers to grow olives and grapevines give the collection an agricultural focus.

The ruins of the Castello medievale di Bestagno stand on an isolated hill and form part of the defence system of the Valle Impero. Their walls date from different periods between the 12th and 14th centuries. They also bear traces of the destruction caused by the Spanish in 1611. Together, the castle remains tell of several periods of history rather than a single phase of construction.

Woods and Olive Groves Along the Sentiero dei Santuari

The Sentiero dei Santuari leads from the Valle Impero through woods and olive groves towards the Santuario della Madonna della Neve in Villa Guardia di Pontedassio. Alongside churches and historic buildings, the route through the landscape offers another reason to visit. If you plan to follow the trail, check local trail conditions before setting out.

Local Food Culture and Finding Accommodation

The Museo storico degli spaghetti was established in Pontedassio in 1958. Other products characteristic of the town include large rounds of Biscotti made from a recipe dating back to the late 19th century. The yeast dough is partly scored, baked once and then baked a second time.

The former Cena Domini is also part of local tradition: Pontedassio and its hamlets once held a meal of stockfish preserved in olive oil and handmade lasagnette. Each participant also received a round loaf marked with fennel and a cross. These culinary details offer a distinct way to explore the town’s history, alongside its art, castle remains and landscape.

When looking for a holiday apartment in Pontedassio, you could start by considering what interests you most: church art and local history, the historic sights in Bestagno, a walk through woods and olive groves, or the local food culture.

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Go to the main travel overview: Imperia.