Slate outcrops and histories

Geography of Slate Outcrops

The fascinating slate lands are mainly divided into two distinctive areas:

The quarries of Monte San Giacomo. The first area, which extends in the immediate hinterland of Lavagna, is known as Mount San Giacomo. Here, between the picturesque towns of Cogorno and Santa Giulia, slate extraction has deep and historical roots. These places are not only witnesses of an ancient tradition, but also represent the beating heart of a practice that kept its production, organizational and technical methods intact until the first decades of the 20th century.
The deposits of Val Fontanabuona. The second important area is the Fontanabuona valley, or Lavagna valley. This region extends from the Scoffera pass to the plain of the Entella stream, which flows between Chiavari and Lavagna. The valleys on the northern side, rich in history and tradition, include places such as Lorsica, Orero and Tribogna. Here, slate mining began to thrive in the mid-to-late 1800s, evolving over time to become a major source of economic activity in the area. The active quarries and processing plants present in Fontanabuona are witnesses of an industry that has been able to adapt and renew itself, also processing blocks coming from the province of Imperia.
Slate extraction in Uscio and Tribogna. We cannot forget a third area of interest within the Fontanabuona, which includes Uscio and Tribogna. In this area, mining activity probably dates back to the 16th-17th century, thanks to the presence of slate outcrops favorable for open-air cultivation. These deposits allowed the development of a local industry well before elsewhere in the valley, keeping alive a tradition that is intertwined with the history of the region itself.

Use of Slate in History

The use of slate dates back to the 10th century AD, when this rock began to spread initially in the local coastal area and subsequently in increasingly remote places. The very name of the slate, “Lavagna”, derives from the place of origin, indicating the historical importance of the city in its development and trade.

First Documented Mentions

Between the 10th and 11th centuries, the terms “clapa olei”, “clapa piscium” and “clapa pannirum” appear, indicating the slate slabs on which various foods were placed for sale. In 1031, there is anonymous testimony of a place called “Claparia” on the heights of Lavagna, indicating a place of extraction and processing of slate slabs.

Document from 1176

The first documented testimony with certainty dates back to 23 December 1176, preserved in the State Archives of Savona. In this document, the consuls of Savona and those of Recco notify the renewal of an agreement for the supply of slate slabs by the people of Recco to the people of Savona, in exchange for help and protection for the church of Santa Maria.

Growth of Slate Activity

From the 11th to the 14th century there was a notable increase in production in the slate activity in the area, as evidenced by numerous documents. This suggests that the origins of slate mining and processing date back to a period prior to the documentation itself, indicating a significant presence already in the early Middle Ages.

In summary, slate has a thousand-year history, with deep roots dating back to the early Middle Ages and a growing importance in trade and the daily life of local communities along the Tigullio coast and beyond.

Sources

Brandolini P., Lagomarsino R., Nicchia P., Terranova R., “Recupero e valorizzazione turistica di emergenze geomorfologiche ambientali e storico-culturali nelle aree delle ardesie interessate da attività estrattiva nell’Appennino ligure”, in Terranova R., Brandolini P., Fipro M. (a c. di), “La valorizzazione turistica dello spazio fisico come via alla salvaguardia ambientale”, Bologna, PÁTRON Editore, 2005

Savioli L., “Tradizione e storia della lavagna”, in Mannoni T. (a c. di), “Ardesia. Materia, Cultura, Futuro”, Genova, Sagep Editrice, 1995

Trekking and cycling routes that may interest you

Itineraries of different durations and suitable for every taste and level of preparation, to discover the most beautiful and evocative places and panoramas of the Ligurian Tigullio.