A mountain village in the province of Imperia, which is located at the foot of the hill of San Bartolomeo, at about 350 meters above sea level, near the valley Arroscia. Caravonica is a village devoted to agriculture, the cultivation of olive trees and vines with(a discreet production of Vermentino and Dolcetto.
It was a fief of the Counts of Ventimiglia, that built a castle in the higher part of the village.
San Bartolomeo d'Arzeno , a district of Caravonica, located in an even higher position, first belonged to the Knights of Rhodes and then to those of Malta. Caravonica can be considered a gathering of several villages, linked together by the local Parish Church of San Michele. The church, located outside the town center and built in the XI century, is at present the local cemetery. In the meanwhile a modern church, entitled to San Michele Arcangelo has been built within the town's limits. The village experienced the same events that have characterized the history of the other similar Ligurian towns and it was inserted, after the Congress of Vienna in the Kingdom of Sardinia and in 1861 in the new kingdom of Italy.
Not to miss:
The ruins of the church of San Michele Arcangelo, built around the XI century.
The small Shrine of the Madonna delle Vigne, built on the ancient Royal Road in Piedmont. It dates from the late XVI century, and underwent refurbishments in the XVIII century. It has recently been restored, and features a small porch outside, which is adorned by XVII century stuccos of the artists Marvaldi and Casella and a fresco depicting the Madonna of Carrega. Beside the church is located a hospice for pilgrims during the XVII century.
The Church of San Bartolomeo d'Arzeno, in the village of the same name, which was submitted to the Knights of Malta for a long time.