Mioglia

Sitting in a pretty valley right where Liguria meets Piedmont, this pastoral village is almost idyllic. It rests in a green pasture at the foot of the Apennine Mountains, with its bell tower rising above the trees and alpine village spreading out around it. Traditionally agricultural, the town still produces a variety of crops, including potatoes, beans, grains, truffles and mushrooms. It also has fruit groves, chestnut orchards and vineyards. But another important product is found in the beautiful and aromatic lavender fields.

Despite its tiny size - a mere 600 residents- it has a true community feel and even boasts a few restaurants, a pharmacy, a butcher, a baker and a couple other shops. There is a community theater group that puts on shows periodically, and a museum dedicated to folk art and items of peasant life. The residents love a good party, as evidenced in the number of sagras they put on every year: Festa del Salame e Fave (salami and fava bean festival) every May 1; the Sagra dei Gnocchi (potato dumplings) in July; Ferragosto, a 4-day party celebrating the Feast of the Assumption and the highlight of summer; Sagra di Bollito (boiled meat) served with a variety of sauces and an abundance of other dishes in September; and the Chestnut Festival in October. The bounty of the valley and mountains comes to the table for you to enjoy!

Mioglia was formerly a feudal estate held by noble families from Genova, including the Branca Doriai and Grimaldi families. Today, it's a laid-back village that enjoys the nature and sports at its doorstep, including mountain biking, hiking, horse riding and fishing in the rivers.

Despite its inland location, Mioglia is less than 25 kilometers from the Mediterranean coastal towns of Varazze and Savona, and Genova is just a little further than that. If you want to go a bit further afield you can visit Chiavari, or go the other direction to Nice, France! Over the border in Piedmont is the beautiful town of Acqui Terme.

If you want an idyllic setting still in proximity to the coast, this might be a good choice for you!