When the village got its church in 1618, the patron saint was chosen with candles: one was lit for each saint, and the winner was the last to go out, the one for St Charles Borromeo.
Of that church only the apse and the bell tower are left, standing over the village. In 1943 thirty-five thousand volumes of the Mazzini library of La Spezia had been put away for safety in its cellars: the Allied bombing of 1944 destroyed them, hit the old town and left the church so damaged that it was decided to pull it down. The population is 1,008.
Pesto alla Genovese
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Next up: Saint Charles Borromeo, chosen as patron by the candle that stayed lit the longest, Wednesday 4 November
Nearest airport: Genova, 73 km away
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📅 Every year, on 4 November
Borghetto di Vara celebrates Saint Charles Borromeo on 4 November; in 1618, when the parish was founded, the patron was chosen by lighting one candle for each saint and awarding the title to whichever stayed lit the longest.
Straight-line distances from the town centre. Tap a point to open its page.
The closest destinations covered by our editors, with straight-line distance.
Outside Borghetto di Vara, but an easy day trip away.
