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How to get there: exit at Arquata Scrivia (Highway A7 Genoa-Serravalle-Milan).
Beyond the town of Pietrabissara which is the last bastion of Genoa as well as on the boundaries there is an extended territory that is accompanied by the Scrivia torrent that flows towards the plateau. Arquata Scrivia just like the nearby Serravalle has Lombard origins, located on the side of the Via Postumia, back then the inhabitants of Libarna took shelter in the surrounding nature. “Torrent of water” or rather “Ar” Qua” was the ancient place-name of Arquata. The town is surrounded by new residential and industrial areas and it has developed on three parallel plains and each one represents a piece of 19th century history, which outlined the opening of the Strada Regia dei Giovi. The Church of St. Anthony Abate contains Romanic traces with three naves united by a semicircle. The noble Palazzo Grafogliati dates back to Renaissance times and you can see the signs of repeated restorations and it faces the unique Pozzo that has Baroque features. Palazzo Spinola is the home of the City Hall and it is protected by 14th century towers that are the ruins of the Feudal castle that was built on the nearby hills. The ogival door allows you to enter the old town center that highlights its Medieval architecture. The Parish Church of St. Jacob has a painting by the School of Domenico Piola and a prestigious wooden statue attributed to Bartolomeo Carrea. The Via Interiore is closed in the north by a portal tower that has rich picturesque areas that makes up for a pleasing walk. The green surroundings of Arquata take you to Varinella, Variana, and Grondona, which are towns that have Medieval features and are well know for there porcini mushrooms that perfume its woods.
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