WalksThe Orchid ParadiseA short walk around Diano CastelloLet's take a look at Diano MarinaThree ancient villagesThe Savoia roadA look at a few churchesWhere the Olive Tree is kingAlong the crests
Diano Castello is located at the shoulders of Diano Marina; it has a medieval nucleus, and it was the fortress of the Marquises Clavesana (Castello in Italian means “castle”); some remains of the castle walls are still visible.
Diano Castello is known for the “Vermentino Prize”, given every year to the best Italian producers of this wine. The village is dominated by the Parish Church St. Nicola, dated before the 12th century, when the Bishop of Albenga, assigned to the village the dignity of “Pieve” (Parish). The church was then rebuilt by G.B. Marvaldi, of Candeasco, ancestor of the most important local family of architects, between the end of the 17th and beginning of the 18th century.
Very nice, also, is the Church of the Assunta, with its 13th century apsis and its frescoes in both Baroque and Renaissance style. Every year, in September, a historical parade recalls the magnificence of those medieval times. The whole village is built upon a typical “tufa” (marl) stone, dug during the centuries to create underground passages and tanks to accumulate water; these tanks are called in local dialect: “lone”.
At the northern side of the village, there is the Church St. Giovanni, maybe built in the first century A.D. We find in its interior pieces of medieval frescoes and a precious wooden ceiling of the 15th century, decorated with holy and profane scenes. In the Oratory, every year at Christmas time there’s an important competition to elect the most beautiful Christmas nativity scenes of the territory.
The modern part of Diano Castello is in the flat area created by the Torrent St. Pietro; the historical centre is surrounded by a ring of vineyards, producing the excellent Vermentino white wine, awarded in the most prestigious international wine competitions.