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The Aveto Valley is very enchanting where legends are usually confused with its history. The ancient Ligurian tribes that lived in this area placed the first images dedicated to the gods on the mountainous chain that closes the valley.
The natural shape of the valley follows the flow of the river and those who observe it are filled with emotions because of its beauty and landscape. In 1945 Ernest Hemingway wrote, “Today I crossed the most beautiful valley in the world.” This is where in the Valley of the gods Rezzaoaglio is located.
It is located where the Rozzoaglio and Aveto rivers meet. The ancient Rusagni was elected home by the noble Cella, that were descendents of Bartolomeo and Antonio. These powerful feudatory’s that was succeeded to Da Mileto and through an act with Corrado Malaspina they had acquired the control of the main roads of the Aveto Valley in 1251. This carried a heavy weight in all political events that interested the valley since the end of 1600.
With the Della Cella di Cabanne branch (descendents of Giuliano the brother of Bartolomeo) they controlled all legal and illegal trading that was carried out in the valley across the Ventarola, Bozale and Gifalco passes, which were the most important ones in the direction of S. Stefano d’Aveto. They also controlled the Pietre Sorelle above Torrio towards Piacenza. Rezzoaglio (Rusagni) located on the valley floor, a very important Villa was built; it was the noble Cella home of Rezoagno and Malaspina. However, today it no longer exists.
The castle is located on the Rezzoaglio rock near the Aveto blight. It was a symbol of power of its Signori. Rusagni, which was located between the fields of Aveto and the Rusagni torrent was sketched in 1738 (along with other villas of the Marchesato of S. Stefano d’Aveto) by the famous cartographer of the Genoese Republic Col. Ing. Matteo Vinzoni. He placed this sketch in the “Maps of the Imperial Feud” that was made for the Serene Magistrate (now it is the State Archive of Genoa).
Later Rusagni was built around the parish church of St. Michele that was rebuilt many times. His statue dominates from the framed niche found on the Baroque façade. On its side it also has a solid stone bell tower, which is a symbol of the arduousness of our people.
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