Bric Tana Park
Bric Tana Park
A small park brimming with curiosities in a natural setting like no other: this is how you’ll see the Bric Tana, marked by curious limestone needles that rise above the Bormida river from the chestnut groves and mixed forests. It’s a wild place where you can observe prehistoric artefacts at the site known as Tana dell'Orpe. Palaeobotanical research linked to the study of pollen found at the site has made it possible to determine the primordial state of the sites and the eating habits of their ancient inhabitants.
IAT: Via Enrico del Carretto, 29 - Villa Scarzella
Phone: 328 7651858
Email: wildbormidaoutdoors@gmail.com
Offal, known as frizze or grive, is a traditional local cured meat made from pork liver and sausage and seasoned with juniper berries, which were often used back in the day instead of pepper. They can be heated in a bain-marie, cooked on a griddle or even fried.
The rock engravings of Biestro
In the Biestro section you’ll find the engravings area of prehistoric man. The most ambiguous element of the entire engravings area lies at the summit of the crag: the top platform of the sandstone bank, covered with topsoil, is furrowed longitudinally by a deep natural crevice.
The Bormida valleys area is awash with evidence of human habitation dating back to prehistoric times. Most of the evidence consists of polished stone axes, some originating from surrounding areas: from Cosseria, Cairo Montenotte, Cengio, Rocchetta Cengio, Rocchetta Cairo, Roccavignale and Plodio.
The boulder altar at Colla
You’ll find isolated engravings of modest size all over the reserve. But the large engraved boulder, located not far from the small church of Saint Anne and Saint Lucia on the Colla pass, will dispel any doubts you may have had: this boulder stands about one metre high and a metre and twenty centimetres wide, and its flat top surface features a sequence of eleven deeply engraved cupels, whose diameter varies between six and eight centimetres.
You can round off your guided tour or workshop excursion by feasting on delicious, locally sourced traditional products thanks to the collaboration of the Cascina Rocchini farm and its strategic location within the Park.
The shrine
Don’t miss the Shrine of Our Lady of the Desert, in a place so called because it was uninhabited: in fact, there was nothing but a chestnut dryer with a 17th century fresco depicting the Madonna and Child, called Madonna of the Three Springs because of the three springs next to the structure. Chestnut gatherers, woodcutters and charcoal burners turned to the Virgin Mary. A trail known as the Caves Loop starts from here.
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