Discovering the Ligurian Riviera
Lake Osiglia: between the present to experience and a past to remember
August 14, 2022
Liguria is a land rich in breathtaking natural landscapes, which is why we often like to get away from our agritourism to treat ourselves to a trip out of town to discover the neighbouring areas; this week in particular we decided to visit Lake Osiglia.
We like to transmit this love and passion for the territory also to visitors staying in one of our flats and to anyone who reads us, so we will tell you about our adventure.
When to go to Lake Osiglia
There is no better time to visit Lake Osiglia, this incredible location has its merits both during the summer and during the colder months. The village is just over 700 metres above sea level and, for this reason, if in summer it is possible to find some refreshment, during the winter period sometimes the lake freezes giving a precious spectacle.
If you want to walk, swim, rent pedal boats, or go canoeing, a visit during the summer season is certainly more advisable.
Some interesting facts about the history of the lake
The history of this lake is common to other artificial reservoirs in our country. In particular, it is reminiscent of both Lake Moncenisio in France (Italian until 1947) and Lake Resia in Val Venosta (South Tyrol).
For the construction of these reservoirs, in fact, part of the old town was flooded and submerged by water.
Lake Osiglia is drained for maintenance about every 10 years, and during this process it is possible to admire the ruins of old houses emerging.
If you are interested in learning more about the event, or are curious to see pictures of the old dwellings at the base of the lake during the last emptying in 2020, you can go to the previous link.
What to do at Lake Osiglia
The lake is a very interesting destination for all kinds of tourists, so whether you like adventure or prefer to relax reading a good book in front of a landscape, this incredible reservoir is the right destination for you.
The more adventurous will be interested to know that the lake has hosted kayaking and canoeing events as well as triathlon events over the years, so it also has a certain importance from a recreational sports point of view.
If you are not a fan of competitive sports, don't worry, there are fun activities for everyone on Lake Osiglia: you can dive in and take a swim, you can rent a pedalo, you can go on canoe trips, and you can even enjoy dinner and a beer at the local bar.
If you prefer long walks, you can admire the landscape by walking along the footpaths that start from the lake itself; we recommend the Sentiero del Tempo (Time Path).
How to get there?
From our farmholidays, to get to your destination you need to take your car and start your journey by taking the A10 motorway at San Bartolomeo al Mare and exiting at Finale Ligure.
Once you leave the motorway, you continue your adventure along the roads of the first hinterland: you first proceed along State Road 490 of the Melogno Pass and just before reaching the summit near the historic Forts, you have to turn right onto Provincial Road 16, which, after a few kilometres, finally takes you to the village of Osiglia.
Places of interest in Osiglia among churches and historical monuments
Once you have arrived at your destination, the first place of interest to visit is in the hamlet of Borgo; here you will find the Church of the Santissimo Nome di Maria, a place of worship dating back to 1400 and built in full Baroque style.
Slightly below the small church, it is possible to visit the monument dedicated to the fallen of the First and Second World War on which a tricolour flag stands out. From this position, if you catch a glimpse, on the opposite side of the square you can see the 15th-century Oratory of St Francis, located near the parish church of the Holy Name of Mary.
The building is still an important cultural centre because it has become the seat of the municipal theatre and hosts important meetings and cultural events.
Continuing along the route towards Ripa, it is possible to admire the ancient Roman bridge, beyond which is the 15th-century chapel of Sant'Antonio.
The great protagonist of our route: Lake Osiglia
Having left the chapel, we arrive at the real protagonist of our excursion: Lake Osiglia. If you look on the municipality's website, if you are interested in learning more about the characteristics of the lake, you can find very detailed content with the most technical information.
Today we prefer to leave this part out and continue our journey, trying to convey the emotions we experienced during this brief trip, telling you about all the opportunities that this incredible place has to offer you too.
Having passed the part of the lake where it is possible to walk down, we continue our walk towards the Manfrin Bridge, named after the engineer who designed it. This bridge offers a spectacular view and, also thanks to the presence of a sign inviting lovers to kiss, it is a very romantic place visited by many couples.
We cross the bridge itself to reach the landing stage and take a moment to admire the lake from the opposite side of the road before continuing in the direction of the dam.
On the way to the final part of this trip, every 100 metres or so we find small rest areas where it is possible to picnic and learn more about the local geography and history thanks to the information panels: in the various descriptions you can read about the history of the ancient trades of the inhabitants of Osiglia and the stories of the families who had to leave their homes for the construction of the lake itself.
These panels tell us about the past that has left its mark on the lake bed, not only demonstrating the impact of the construction of the reservoir on the local community, but also highlighting how the old trades are now only a memory that lives on in the memory of the local elderly.
This is why, after having been plagued by so much poverty and severe depopulation, today more than ever the area, thanks also to local tourism, deserves to be rediscovered and enhanced.
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