Borgomaro and the Villages of the Maro Valley

Borgomaro is a small village in the hills inland from Imperia, on the Ligurian coast. It sits among olive groves in the Maro Valley, where a compact old center and a group of smaller hamlets give the area its character. This is a place to explore slowly rather than work through a long list of sights: walk the village lanes, follow roads into the surrounding hills, and see a side of Liguria shaped more by farming and local life than by seaside tourism.

A village set among olive-covered hills

The approach to Borgomaro makes its setting clear. Roads wind inland from the Imperia area into a valley of terraced slopes, olive trees and small settlements. The landscape is green in places, dry and stony in others, with villages appearing along the valley and higher on the hillsides. Borgomaro itself is modest in size. Its older streets are better suited to wandering on foot than driving, and the surrounding countryside is never far away. The hills give the village a sense of separation from the coast, although the sea remains within reach for a day trip. For someone trying to understand inland Liguria, that contrast is part of the appeal.

Old lanes and a wider network of hamlets

The village center has the close-built houses and narrow passages typical of older Ligurian settlements. Rather than one major monument dominating a visit, the interest lies in the layout: small changes in level, tightly grouped buildings and glimpses of the valley between them. It rewards an unhurried walk more than a fixed sightseeing route. Borgomaro is also a municipality made up of several smaller communities. Conio and Maro Castello, for example, have their own hillside settings and feel distinct from the main village. Exploring them gives a better picture of how people settled this terrain, with homes and cultivated land spread across the valley rather than concentrated in one town.

A slower base for inland Liguria

Olive cultivation remains an important part of the area’s identity. Terraces cut into the slopes show how much work went into farming the hills, and local food is closely tied to the ingredients of western Liguria. Borgomaro feels like a working village, not a resort built around visitors. That makes it a good fit for travelers who enjoy quiet streets, short village walks and drives through rural scenery. It is less convenient for anyone relying entirely on public transportation or expecting a broad choice of shops and evening entertainment. A car makes it much easier to see the outlying hamlets and combine time here with visits to Imperia and the coast.

What is there in Borgomaro?

A quick overview of the most notable things you can find in Borgomaro.

The Maro Valley

The valley’s slopes and scattered settlements give Borgomaro its inland Ligurian setting.

Olive groves and terraces

Olive trees cover much of the surrounding hillside, often on terraces shaped by generations of cultivation.

Borgomaro’s old lanes

The compact village center has narrow passages and closely grouped houses best explored on foot.

Hillside hamlets

Smaller communities around Borgomaro add varied village views and a sense of the valley’s wider settlement pattern.

Rural roads and walking routes

Minor roads and paths lead through cultivated hills, though routes are worth checking before setting out.

What to see in Borgomaro?

Notable places and attractions connected to Borgomaro.

Borgomaro historic center

The main village’s old streets are the natural starting point for a visit, with traditional houses and views toward the surrounding hills.

Conio

This hillside hamlet within the municipality is worth visiting for its village setting and outlook over the inland landscape.

Maro Castello

A small hill settlement above the valley, Maro Castello shows the quieter, more dispersed side of the Borgomaro area.

Pros & Cons

Pros

✓Quiet village atmosphere away from the busier coast.
✓Olive-covered hills and attractive inland scenery.
✓Several small hamlets to explore nearby.
✓Good base for seeing both rural Liguria and the Imperia coast by car.
✓Compact old center that is pleasant to explore on foot.

Cons

−A car is useful for reaching hamlets and exploring the wider valley.
−Public transportation is less convenient than in coastal towns.
−Limited choice of shops, dining and evening activities.
−Narrow, winding roads can make short trips take longer than expected.
−Hilly lanes and uneven surfaces may be difficult for some visitors.

Location

Borgomaro is located in Liguria.

Borgomaro, Liguria, Italy

43.974924, 7.945147

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