What to see in Millesimo<\/h2>\n![\"Il](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-01-1024x683.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThe old town is small and takes an hour or two on foot, stops excluded. A sensible order: start at the bridge, go through the gate to Piazza Italia, climb to the castle and Villa Scarzella, then walk down to Santa Maria extra muros. Opening hours change and many sights have no official calendar: where that is the case you will find the municipality’s phone number below.<\/p>\n
The Gaietta bridge<\/h3>\n![\"La](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-02-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIt is the symbol of Millesimo and appears on the municipal coat of arms. The bridge crosses the Bormida and ends at a gate with a guard tower topped by Ghibelline battlements: it was the western entrance to the village. It is also called the \u00abPonte Vecchio\u00bb. Sources mention it in the founding deed of 1206, but they disagree about the tower: some date it to the 12th century along with the bridge, one guide puts it at the end of the 15th. In 1744, after a flood of the Bormida, one of the two arches collapsed together with a small tower; next to the old bridge there is now a suspended footbridge, which a recent article describes as 19th-century and closed to the public. To see it whole, look at it from the river bank, as the best-known photos do.<\/p>\n
Piazza Italia and the old town<\/h3>\n![\"Una](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-12-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nPiazza Italia is the centre of the village: arcades, shops and one side taken up by the Town Hall. Markets and festivals are held here, including the ribbon-cutting of the Truffle Festival. Narrow streets with stone houses and red roofs lead off the square, with the odd Del Carretto coat of arms. In the shops under the arcades you find hazelnut cakes, cheeses, cured meats and truffle sauces. Some guides say the main axis follows the old Roman via Aemilia Scauri: the claim is repeated but not documented, so do not count it as a stop.<\/p>\n
The Del Carretto castle<\/h3>\n![\"Il](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-05-1024x768.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nThe castle dominates the village from a low hill. The oldest part, with the tower, the keep and the east wall, dates from the second half of the 13th century; the plan is square, with towers at the corners. In 1553 it was dismantled on the orders of the governor of Milan, who feared it would fall to the French; the family moved into the palace that is now the Town Hall. It was damaged again in 1796, during the Napoleonic campaigns. The municipality bought it in 1989 and has been restoring it since the 1980s: today it hosts exhibitions and concerts. There are no official visiting hours: according to one guide it opens only for events. Before climbing up, ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Villa Scarzella: the Napoleonic Museum and the park museum<\/h3>\n![\"Villa](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-04-1024x678.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n![\"La](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-08-1024x678.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n![\"Il](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-09-1024x678.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n![\"L'area](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-11-1024x680.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n![\"Il](\"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/millesimo-foto-10-1024x576.jpg\")
<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nThe old town is small and takes an hour or two on foot, stops excluded. A sensible order: start at the bridge, go through the gate to Piazza Italia, climb to the castle and Villa Scarzella, then walk down to Santa Maria extra muros. Opening hours change and many sights have no official calendar: where that is the case you will find the municipality’s phone number below.<\/p>\n
The Gaietta bridge<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the symbol of Millesimo and appears on the municipal coat of arms. The bridge crosses the Bormida and ends at a gate with a guard tower topped by Ghibelline battlements: it was the western entrance to the village. It is also called the \u00abPonte Vecchio\u00bb. Sources mention it in the founding deed of 1206, but they disagree about the tower: some date it to the 12th century along with the bridge, one guide puts it at the end of the 15th. In 1744, after a flood of the Bormida, one of the two arches collapsed together with a small tower; next to the old bridge there is now a suspended footbridge, which a recent article describes as 19th-century and closed to the public. To see it whole, look at it from the river bank, as the best-known photos do.<\/p>\n
Piazza Italia and the old town<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nPiazza Italia is the centre of the village: arcades, shops and one side taken up by the Town Hall. Markets and festivals are held here, including the ribbon-cutting of the Truffle Festival. Narrow streets with stone houses and red roofs lead off the square, with the odd Del Carretto coat of arms. In the shops under the arcades you find hazelnut cakes, cheeses, cured meats and truffle sauces. Some guides say the main axis follows the old Roman via Aemilia Scauri: the claim is repeated but not documented, so do not count it as a stop.<\/p>\n
The Del Carretto castle<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nThe castle dominates the village from a low hill. The oldest part, with the tower, the keep and the east wall, dates from the second half of the 13th century; the plan is square, with towers at the corners. In 1553 it was dismantled on the orders of the governor of Milan, who feared it would fall to the French; the family moved into the palace that is now the Town Hall. It was damaged again in 1796, during the Napoleonic campaigns. The municipality bought it in 1989 and has been restoring it since the 1980s: today it hosts exhibitions and concerts. There are no official visiting hours: according to one guide it opens only for events. Before climbing up, ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Villa Scarzella: the Napoleonic Museum and the park museum<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nIt is the symbol of Millesimo and appears on the municipal coat of arms. The bridge crosses the Bormida and ends at a gate with a guard tower topped by Ghibelline battlements: it was the western entrance to the village. It is also called the \u00abPonte Vecchio\u00bb. Sources mention it in the founding deed of 1206, but they disagree about the tower: some date it to the 12th century along with the bridge, one guide puts it at the end of the 15th. In 1744, after a flood of the Bormida, one of the two arches collapsed together with a small tower; next to the old bridge there is now a suspended footbridge, which a recent article describes as 19th-century and closed to the public. To see it whole, look at it from the river bank, as the best-known photos do.<\/p>\n
Piazza Italia and the old town<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nPiazza Italia is the centre of the village: arcades, shops and one side taken up by the Town Hall. Markets and festivals are held here, including the ribbon-cutting of the Truffle Festival. Narrow streets with stone houses and red roofs lead off the square, with the odd Del Carretto coat of arms. In the shops under the arcades you find hazelnut cakes, cheeses, cured meats and truffle sauces. Some guides say the main axis follows the old Roman via Aemilia Scauri: the claim is repeated but not documented, so do not count it as a stop.<\/p>\n
The Del Carretto castle<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nThe castle dominates the village from a low hill. The oldest part, with the tower, the keep and the east wall, dates from the second half of the 13th century; the plan is square, with towers at the corners. In 1553 it was dismantled on the orders of the governor of Milan, who feared it would fall to the French; the family moved into the palace that is now the Town Hall. It was damaged again in 1796, during the Napoleonic campaigns. The municipality bought it in 1989 and has been restoring it since the 1980s: today it hosts exhibitions and concerts. There are no official visiting hours: according to one guide it opens only for events. Before climbing up, ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Villa Scarzella: the Napoleonic Museum and the park museum<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nPiazza Italia is the centre of the village: arcades, shops and one side taken up by the Town Hall. Markets and festivals are held here, including the ribbon-cutting of the Truffle Festival. Narrow streets with stone houses and red roofs lead off the square, with the odd Del Carretto coat of arms. In the shops under the arcades you find hazelnut cakes, cheeses, cured meats and truffle sauces. Some guides say the main axis follows the old Roman via Aemilia Scauri: the claim is repeated but not documented, so do not count it as a stop.<\/p>\n
The Del Carretto castle<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nThe castle dominates the village from a low hill. The oldest part, with the tower, the keep and the east wall, dates from the second half of the 13th century; the plan is square, with towers at the corners. In 1553 it was dismantled on the orders of the governor of Milan, who feared it would fall to the French; the family moved into the palace that is now the Town Hall. It was damaged again in 1796, during the Napoleonic campaigns. The municipality bought it in 1989 and has been restoring it since the 1980s: today it hosts exhibitions and concerts. There are no official visiting hours: according to one guide it opens only for events. Before climbing up, ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Villa Scarzella: the Napoleonic Museum and the park museum<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nThe castle dominates the village from a low hill. The oldest part, with the tower, the keep and the east wall, dates from the second half of the 13th century; the plan is square, with towers at the corners. In 1553 it was dismantled on the orders of the governor of Milan, who feared it would fall to the French; the family moved into the palace that is now the Town Hall. It was damaged again in 1796, during the Napoleonic campaigns. The municipality bought it in 1989 and has been restoring it since the 1980s: today it hosts exhibitions and concerts. There are no official visiting hours: according to one guide it opens only for events. Before climbing up, ask the municipality (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Villa Scarzella: the Napoleonic Museum and the park museum<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nAt the foot of the castle stands Villa Scarzella, built in 1855 by Giuseppe Scarzella and bought by the municipality in 1989. It houses the Napoleonic Museum, with prints, maps, posters and proclamations from the period and models of battles fought by the French army in Liguria and lower Piedmont, and on the ground floor the museum of the Bric Tana Park, telling the geological story of the area from the Carboniferous onwards. The Napoleonic Museum recalls the battle of April 1796. Hours and entry are not confirmed: the Ministry of Culture listing speaks of seasonal and occasional opening. Phone first: +39 019 564007 \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The Town Hall and Pius VII’s altar<\/h3>\n
The Town Hall is the former Del Carretto palace, where the family moved after 1553. A guide says it keeps suits of armour, an altar tied to the stay of Pope Pius VII, a prisoner of Napoleon, in August 1809, and a room linked to Bonaparte. No visiting hours are confirmed for the interior: from outside you can see the sandstone doorway and the tower.<\/p>\n
Santa Maria extra muros<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nJust outside the old core stands the Romanesque church of Santa Maria extra muros, with a bell tower of several storeys. Sources disagree on dates: one places a first mention in 998, other guides speak of the 12th century with a 15th-century bell tower. Guides mention three naves, 16th-century frescoes and a medieval baptismal font. Opening hours are not confirmed \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
The church of the Visitation and the chapel of San Rocco<\/h3>\n
In the centre stands the parish church of the Visitation of Mary and St Anthony Abbot, with a bell tower that is easy to see from the river bank. The chapel of San Rocco has an altar inside. As with the other churches there are no official hours: if you find them closed, look at the bell tower and fa\u00e7ade from outside.<\/p>\n
The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Deserto<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nIt stands at about 600 metres, in a clearing along the provincial road to Murialdo and Calizzano, among beech, chestnut and oak woods. \u00abDeserto\u00bb here means a secluded place, not sand. In 1618 a priest had a Madonna and Child painted on a chestnut drying shed; according to tradition, in 1726 a woman obtained the healing of her blind son by praying before the image, and in 1727 the first sanctuary was completed. The present building dates from the second half of the 19th century; the great dome was decorated between 1946 and 1952. It keeps an 1855 Agati organ. It is a stop you make by car.<\/p>\n
The Bric Tana Regional Park<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nIt is the smallest protected area in Liguria: about 170 hectares. It was protected for its karst system, with sinkholes and swallow holes, and for an archaeological site considered of primary importance in Liguria. There is also the Tana dell’Orpe, a cave of about 350 metres with an equipped area in front. We have no marked and verified trails to offer you: the park’s visitor centre is on the SP28 and gives information and guided visits on request (+39 019 564007) \u26a0\ufe0f. If you want to walk, ask there for a map.<\/p>\n
Lake Osiglia<\/h3>\n<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n\n- Savona<\/a>, about 28 km away: port, old town and the starting point if you arrive by train.<\/li>\n
- Finale Ligure<\/a>, about 40 km, and Noli<\/a>, about 45 km (approximate distances).<\/li>\n
- Spotorno<\/a>, Bergeggi<\/a> and Varazze<\/a>: beaches reachable from the Savona coast; journey times not verified.<\/li>\n
- Cosseria, the neighbouring municipality, with the castle besieged by the French in April 1796, and Cengio, where the nearest station is.<\/li>\n
- Lake Osiglia and the Sanctuary of the Deserto, both by car from Millesimo.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\nBy car<\/h3>\n
Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nBy bus<\/h3>\n
<\/figure>\nAbout 14 kilometres away, in the neighbouring municipality of Osiglia, there is an artificial lake created by a dam built between 1937 and 1939 for the steelworks on the Bormida. Three hamlets, Cavallotti, Giacchini and Bertolotti, were submerged and about three hundred people had to move. The remains only resurface when the lake is drained for maintenance: that happened in 2006 and in December 2020. The shores have beech and chestnut woods; there is no verified information on services and rentals \u26a0\ufe0f.<\/p>\n
Truffles and what to eat in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Millesimo calls itself a \u00abtruffle town\u00bb and belongs to the Citt\u00e0 del Tartufo association. In the woods of the valley people look for white and black truffles from late summer until Christmas. In the village you find truffle on restaurant menus in season and, already processed, in jars of sauces in the shops of local products, together with hazelnut cakes, cheeses and cured meats. We do not name restaurants because hours and openings are not verified: book at weekends.<\/p>\n
The National Truffle Festival<\/h3>\n
The festival is normally held in early October; in the past it was at the end of September. The 34th edition ran from Friday 2 to Sunday 4 October 2026, organised by the municipality with the Associazione Tartufai e Tartuficoltori Liguri. The programme included the truffle market in the old town, the ribbon-cutting in Piazza Italia on Saturday at 10:30, the parade of truffle hunters with their dogs and a national truffle-hunting competition. The 2027 dates have not been announced yet \u26a0\ufe0f. If you come by car, arrive early: the organisers estimated more than 50,000 visitors.<\/p>\n
Events in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
Besides the truffle festival, 16 July is the feast of the Madonna del Carmine, the village’s patron: the programme is not verified. The castle and Villa Scarzella host exhibitions and concerts on dates to check. In February 2026 the municipality celebrated the 820th anniversary of the founding with a visit by Albert II of Monaco: it was a one-off event. Up-to-date dates are on the municipality’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n A day combination: village and museums in the morning, lunch with local products, sanctuary or lake in the afternoon, back to the sea in the evening.<\/p>\n We have no verified data on how many places to stay there are in the village: a small inland town has a limited offer, to be searched for early, above all on the truffle festival weekend. Sleeping in Millesimo makes sense if you want a quiet evening and the woods the next morning; for the sea and a wider choice of restaurants and hotels the best base is the Savona coast, less than an hour away, or the towns of the Riviera delle Palme. Without a car it is simpler to sleep on the coast and come up for the day. We do not name properties because we have no verified information.<\/p>\n Take the A6 Turin\u2013Savona motorway and leave at the Millesimo toll booth. From Savona it is about 28 km, from Genoa about 70 and from Turin about 97.<\/p>\n Millesimo has no station of its own: the nearest is Cengio, about ten kilometres away. According to aggregators, from Cengio there are connections to Savona in about half an hour and to Turin in about an hour and a half; check exact times on Trenitalia<\/a> \u26a0\ufe0f. From Cengio you continue by bus or taxi.<\/p>\nDay trips from Millesimo<\/h2>\n
\n
Where to stay in Millesimo<\/h2>\n
How to get to Millesimo<\/h2>\n
By car<\/h3>\n
By train<\/h3>\n
By bus<\/h3>\n