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Favale di Malvaro known as Fontebono because of its pureness and abundance of water is immersed in green areas of chestnuts and it is surrounded by the Caucaso, Camolaio, Pagliaro and Rondanara Mountains. It is a typical agricultural settlement that has always been successful and it also specializes in sheep-breeding and textiles. The residential area has been well preserved and here you can observe the raw materials of the mountain such as: slate and rocks which have helped build a large part of the structures in this area. This love for one’s home remains in many of its inhabitants who had to move away because of work and toady they return to their valley to celebrate the annual feast of the emigrant.
In Favale di Malvaro, emigration is a well-known phenomena and it dates back to the 1300/1400’s when some people moved towards Genoa and Savona and later to foreign countries such as the Americas. However, “going to America” was always planned and it was a precise choice, where the family agreed to move to earn more and help the entire family. This phenomena helped the people that remained in the valley because those who left were able to help the others improve their lives, construct new buildings, and raise living standards. There are many inhabitants of Flavale who became famous in other countries such as: A.P. Giannini, the founder of Bank of America in San Francisco, the Pezzolo brothers who were famous accordionist of San Francisco, and the tenor Giovanni Demartini. For its far away sons, Flavale has organized for more then 50 years the “Day of the Emigrant” and every year it has a great success. However, there is not much word of the town during the Roman and pre-Roman periods but, there is proof that during the 11th and 12th centuries the Fieschi family and the Conti of Lavagna had a great influence. During the epoch of the Ligurian Republic the inhabitants of Favale sided with the other towns of the Fontanbuona Valley and they defended themselves from the French invasion yelling “Viva Maria.”
The town is dominated by the Parish Church of St. Vincent built in the 17th century. It is surrounded by rocky slopes that make up a natural amphitheater and here agricultural cultivations have been made possible thanks to a lot of hard work and the creation of terracing. Favale di Malvaro has many positive features such as: the greenness of its woods, its genuine agricultural and artisan products, the persistence and courage of its people that didn’t hesitate to face the world in search of fortune, however these people always return to this oasis of peace to immerge themselves in the memories of their origins.
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