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In a wide alluvial plain at the foot of the Apennine ridge, along the course of the river Vara, lies one of the oldest and most historic villages in Liguria: Brugnato. The roots of Brugnato's history go back to the early Middle Ages. It was at that time, in fact, that the monks of St. Colombano of Bobbio built on this site an abbey destined to assume great historical importance, both in the framework of the Bobbio dependencies and as an autonomous centre of power. And the Abbey of Brugnato accumulated so much importance over the centuries that in 1133 it became a diocesan centre, suffragan of Genoa. At the same time, the village that developed around the monastery grew in population and wealth. Today, only a few traces of the ancient abbey's walls remain, while the cathedral in the heart of the village is still imposing and beautiful, containing all the characteristics of Romanesque splendour. Recent excavations have brought to light the remains of the primary church, that of the Benedictine monastery. It is not only because of its history that Brugnato is an important stop on our ethnographic route in the province of La Spezia. In fact, it is characterised by the presence of several "altane", as they are called locally. The "altane" are actually hanging "aie", i.e. raised farmyards that originate from the juxtaposition often with the ancient city walls. Basically, by taking advantage of the presence of the walls, raised levels were created towards the inside of the village, to guarantee protection, which, supported by pillars, gave the possibility of having large flat areas where all the typical farmyard operations could be carried out (fundamental, for example, in cereal growing) without having to be exposed to the outside of the village. Unfortunately, only a few, but significant, examples of these hanging threshing floors remain today.

La Spezia

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