The borgo of Diano Castello stands among olive groves and vineyards on a hill behind Diano Marina. You’ll find its original medieval charm in the tangle of caruggi, (narrow streets typical of Liguria) which only its inhabitants can unravel. The territory surrounding Diano Castello is completely terraced; Ligurians have had to make use of even the steepest hills. Thanks to the mild climate and tufa soil, the Vermentino grape variety has found its perfect environment. Since 1994, the borgo has awarded the Vermentino Prize during an event called Borgo Sapore, with wine and olive oil tastings. The Baroque Parish Church is dedicated to San Nicola of Bari. Built between 1699 and 1725, it houses a white marble altar enriched with precious inserts of rare coloured marble. Beyond the parish church begins one of the most evocative areas of the town: via Martiri della Liberazione, slightly steep, bordered by tall houses that seem to hold each other back by the archivolts connecting the load-bearing structures. After a short stretch, the road opens into two small adjoining squares: Piazza de Foresta and Piazza Clavesana, almost a jewel with its richly worked cobblestones. This was where the castle – of which some traces remain – of the Marquises of Clavesana, the local feudal lords, stood in the 11th century. The Church of Santa Maria Assunta (First half of the 13th century) is of Romanesque style, and the bell tower leaning against the church is Baroque.