Lucinasco in Italy | Province of Imperia, Liguria
Lucinasco is perhaps the only place in Liguria where olives are still picked by hand, without the use of any instruments.
Chiusavecchia
Lucinasco
Chiusavecchia, Imperia
Travel tips
The cultural and everyday life of Lucinasco, which was a feudal estate of the Ventimiglia aristocracy, can be seen in a museum bearing the name of Lazzaro Acquarone (who was born here), which is situated in the Oratorio dei Disciplinati di San Giovanni Battista. It comprises two sections: one is dedicated to an ethnographic collection of traditional manufacturing activities, while the other is dedicated to "countryside dwellings", with a collection of everyday household objects, and religious art, with paintings and sculptures from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
A small park on the outskirts of the village is therefore used as a promotion for the growing of olives and extra virgin olive oil.
A beautiful point of interest also is the oil mill Frantoio "a sangue", which was operated by use of human and animal strength. The agricultural structures of Liguria in form of a stable, some tools, a cistern and sheltered workshops are reflected in the basement of the building.
You can continue your cultural visit by seeing the Romanesque church of the Maddalena, a national monument, and the medieval parish church of Santo Stefano, hidden away in the middle of a splendid park containing waterfalls and a lake. It is not a very difficult walk if you wish to go through Pantasina and climb up Colle d'Aggia.
A slightly longer excursion takes you to Monte Acquarone and the Maddalena woodland. In July, Lucinasco holds the octopus festival. You can practise clay-pigeon shooting from June to September.
History
The small village Lucinasco has about 280 inhabitants and is situated near Chiusavecchia.
Lucinasco decided to stop the clock at the time when the only resources were those of the land and when olive cultivation was a year-round occupation. Favoured by the position of the town, on the ridge between the upper and lower Impero Valley, olive-growing is still the pride of this ancient Roman landed estate. This can be seen during the olive-harvest, which is truly a ritual here: Lucinasco is perhaps the only place in Liguria where olives are still picked by hand, without the use of any instruments. This is why the Liguria Regional Council has chosen this little town with a view over the Alps and the sea as the most appropriate area for the promotion of superior-quality olive oil and the creation of an olive-growing exhibition area.
How to reach
Lucinasco is part of the Chiusanico Municipality and is a village in the Imperia Province located in the Liguria region. There are several other villages near Lucinasco like: Borgomaro (9.7 km), Chiusavecchia (6.7 km) and Case Molini (5.1 km). Take the highway exit Imperia Est from Genoa and take the SS28 up to SP30 and follow it to Lucinasco.
