The Varignano Roman Villa was a manor house from the Roman era. Today it is the seat of the archaeological Museum of the same name. It is located in the hamlet of Le Grazie (Portovenere), between the military building of the Varignano Fortress and the Sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie.
The first phase of construction of the villa dates back to the first half of the 1st century BC. It consisted of a building intended for the residence of the owner (a merchant) combined with an area for processing olive oil. The Roman Villa of Varignano preserves the oldest oil mill in Liguria!
Another peculiarity of the villa is the presence of a cistern with a vaulted ceiling, unique in its kind compared to similar Roman buildings in northern Italy. The water in the cistern was also used for the villa’s private spa, equipped with heated rooms and tubs for hot and cold baths.
Finally, the Roman complex also had a private dock for loading goods and supplies on boats sailing in the Gulf of Poets.
The Villa Romana del Varignano is only 10 minutes by car from Portovenere.
For information on the Museum and opening hours, visit musei.liguria.beniculturali.it.
Hiking trail around the Varignano Roman Villa and Forte del Muzzerone
Do you want to explore the hamlet of Le Grazie on foot? Here is an exciting path reported by the Italian Alpine Club of La Spezia!
LOOP TRAIL AROUND LE GRAZIE / FORTE DEL MUZZERONE
The trail begins in Via Libertà in Le Grazie; climb the stairway called Via Carpena and exit on the Napoleonic road, which you have to follow for a short distance towards Porto Venere. On the mountainside, you can see the signs for path 516: begin to climb the short staircase and then the path that takes you to the vicinity of Fort Muzzerone, touching path 517 and crossing the AVG / AV5T. Go up the asphalted road and take the first path on the right (518), which descends rapidly towards the church of S. Antonio, crossing the AVG and path 517. From the concrete reservoir, walk on the asphalted road. Take the path on the left of the church and continue on path 518C to reach Roman Villa and the seafront of Le Grazie.
- Hiking paths: 516, AVG, 518, 518C-White-red CAI signpost.
- Distance: 3.4 km (2,1 mi).
- Difficulty: Easy.
- Elevation: 300 m (984 ft).
- Hiking time: 120 minutes.
Click here for more hiking trails in and around Portovenere and Cinque Terre.
Photo credits:
Villa romana del Varignano Vecchio on facebook
FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano
CAI La Spezia
