La valle con i ruderi del castello sopra Zuccarello

Ilaria Del Carretto and Zuccarello

Who Ilaria was, the Del Carretto castle, the Lucca sarcophagus and the Sentiero di Ilaria to Castelvecchio.

La valle con i ruderi del castello sopra Zuccarello

Who she was: daughter of Carlo I Del Carrettomarquis of Zuccarello from 1397
Where she was born: in Zuccarelloaccording to tradition and some institutional sources
Where she rests: in Lucca Cathedralin Jacopo della Quercia's sarcophagus
What to see here: ruins of the Del Carretto castlethe village, a statue at the entrance
Sentiero di Ilaria: from Zuccarello to Castelvecchioabout 3 km and 1 hour
Unconfirmed data: elevation gain and difficulty of the trail

Ilaria Del Carretto is known worldwide for Jacopo della Quercia’s sarcophagus in Lucca Cathedral, but her roots are Ligurian. According to tradition she was born in Zuccarello, in the Val Neva, where her father Carlo I Del Carretto was the first marquis. Here you can follow her traces in an hour’s walk.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on 15 October 2026·3 min read

Who was Ilaria Del Carretto

Ilaria was the daughter of Carlo I Del Carretto, the first marquis of Zuccarello, and belonged to a family that had controlled the village since the 14th century. The sources consulted (the profile of the national committee of the Ministry of Culture, the italia.it portal, English Wikipedia) say she was born in Zuccarello and grew up in the castle. None of them cites a primary document, so here we write «according to tradition» and give no precise birth year, only the late 14th century.

Ilaria left the Val Neva in the early 15th century to marry Paolo Guinigi, lord of Lucca. She died in Lucca in 1405, after childbirth. Guinigi commissioned Jacopo della Quercia to make her sarcophagus, now in Lucca Cathedral: the young woman is carved lying down, with a small dog at her feet. Other dates found online, such as a wedding in February 1403, come from a single secondary source and you will not find them here.

Ilaria's traces in Zuccarello

Zuccarello remembers Ilaria in a diffuse way: her name appears on the trail, in the festivals and in the village’s memory. A bronze statue showing her as she leaves for Lucca is reported at the entrance to the village. The sculptor and year are not confirmed: see for yourself on site.

The Del Carretto castle, mentioned as early as 1233, is now a ruin above the village. It is not the «Clavesana Castle», which stands in Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena and is private.

The climb starts from via del Castello and takes about 20 minutes on foot on a cobbled path. There is no official information on access or hours.

In July there is usually a historical re-enactment of Ilaria’s wedding, with a procession, traditional games and a «living chess» tableau. Dates and organisation for 2026 are not confirmed ⚠️.

The Sentiero di Ilaria to Castelvecchio

The Sentiero di Ilaria links Zuccarello with the village of Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena. Sources give about 3 km and a little over an hour. Elevation gain, difficulty and waymarking are not confirmed by official sources: treat it as a hill walk, with water and suitable shoes. The route crosses holm oaks, downy oaks, chestnuts and olive trees, with wild thyme in spring. Check the walking direction on site. Do not confuse it with a namesake loop in Lombardy.

If you arrive by car, plan the return: the road between Zuccarello and Castelvecchio is about 6.6 km and 13 minutes.

How to organise the visit

Drive from Albenga (about 12 km). Leave the car on the edge of the village, stroll along via Armando Tornatore, climb to the castle and, if you like, continue on the trail to Castelvecchio. With the coast close by, you can combine the day with Ceriale or Loano. See also the guide to Zuccarello.

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