{"id":67547,"date":"2026-10-08T12:04:26","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T10:04:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/?p=67547"},"modified":"2026-10-08T12:18:22","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T10:18:22","slug":"nervi-hillside-olive-trees-sea-views","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecobnb.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/nervi-hillside-olive-trees-sea-views\/","title":{"rendered":"Nervi\u2019s Hillside Reborn: Olive Groves, Old Farmhouses and Sea Views"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

A family story, centuries-old olive trees and a hillside overlooking the sea: an interview with the owners of La Collina di San Rocco<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Just a short distance from the sea in Nervi, Genoa<\/a><\/strong>, yet immersed in the green hills, La Collina di San Rocco<\/strong> preserves a landscape<\/strong> shaped by olive trees<\/strong>, terraced hillsides<\/strong>, dry-stone walls<\/strong> and old farmhouses. It is a place with a family history that began generations ago and is now being brought back to life through a restoration project focused on sustainable building<\/strong>, biodiversity<\/strong> and the heritage of the area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The property covers more than one hectare and is home to more than 300 olive trees, many of them centuries old, as well as an orchard and the old buildings that were once inhabited by farming families from the area. After a long period of abandonment, the family decided to restore these spaces and transform them into a place of hospitality, while seeking to preserve the original identity of the hill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today, La Collina di San Rocco<\/a><\/strong> aims to be not only a place to stay, but also a place where guests can discover the nature, history and agricultural culture of Liguria more closely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We met the owners, the Marsano family, to hear the story behind this project, their connection with the land and the olive trees, their sustainable building choices and their dreams for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a family property to a place of hospitality<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"La<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How did the idea of restoring this old farmhouse on the hills above Nervi and turning it into a place of hospitality come about? What made you choose this particular place, surrounded by greenery, olive trees, terraced hillsides and the sea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The farmhouse, together with the other buildings on the property, has belonged to our family for generations and has been passed down from father to son. These places were once home to farming families who made their living from agriculture and flower growing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After the last farmer passed away and following a fairly long period of abandonment, we decided to invest in restoring the property, with the desire to bring back the beauty and atmosphere that must have characterised La Collina di San Rocco as far back as the late nineteenth century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We therefore chose to renovate the farmhouses according to the principles of sustainable building<\/strong> and, at the same time, to restore the olive grove<\/strong> and orchard, with the idea of sharing this place with people who, like us, love nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What also helped us fully understand the uniqueness of the hill<\/strong> was the fact that the entire property, which extends for more than one hectare of terraced hillsides and olive trees<\/strong>, has never been divided into separate plots over the centuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, a large green hollow overlooking the sea of Nervi<\/strong> has remained, surprisingly untouched.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Childhood memories among the terraces and olive trees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Landscape<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What does La Collina di San Rocco mean to you? Is there a particular memory, image or moment that made you fall in love with this place?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

My strongest memory goes back to my childhood. My grandfather and I would take a long walk to visit the farmers who lived on the hill. When it was time to say goodbye, they would often return the visit by giving us baskets full of fresh produce from the vegetable garden<\/strong> and orchard, along with eggs<\/strong> from their chickens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I remember most is the path through the terraces and the feeling that the olive grove would never end<\/strong>. Even though I was just a short distance from the city, I felt as if I had entered a completely different world, far from everyday life and the urban environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is probably from those memories that our strong connection with this place still comes today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The unhurried rhythm of the olive trees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"View<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Your olive grove covers around one and a half hectares and is home to more than 300 olive trees, many of them centuries old. What is your relationship with these trees and with the agricultural tradition of the area?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Our professional lives are quite hectic and often require us to move around, making us feel increasingly like \u201ccitizens of the world\u201d. For this very reason, we are particularly protective of this little haven<\/strong>, a place where it still seems possible to escape the rush of time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Activities such as pruning and caring for the olive trees, which require care, attention and consistency, take on a different meaning here. These are moments that allow us to rediscover a more natural rhythm and a direct connection with the land and with a tradition that belongs to the history of our family and this area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caring for the terraces and dry-stone walls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Dry-stone
Photo via Canva PRO<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The dry-stone terraces are one of the most distinctive features of the Ligurian landscape. How important is it for you to preserve and maintain them?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It is fundamental to us. Dry-stone walls are not simply an aesthetic feature of the Ligurian landscape; they tell the story of the work and ingenuity of generations<\/strong> who managed to make a challenging landscape like ours suitable for cultivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help protect them, we are taking part in a major project supported by the Liguria Region dedicated to the restoration of the dry-stone walls<\/strong> that characterise the area. Preserving them means protecting not only the landscape, but also an important part of its history and identity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainable building and restoring what already exists<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"La<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The property was renovated with a focus on sustainable building. What are the most important environmentally conscious choices you made in restoring and managing La Collina di San Rocco?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

From the very beginning, we tried to prioritise natural materials and solutions that were consistent with the context in which we are located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"La<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For insulation, for example, we used cork<\/strong>, while for the structural elements we chose beams made of natural chestnut wood<\/strong>, a material that provides comfort and exceptional durability. We also used natural, breathable plasters<\/strong> and wooden window frames<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Natural<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One project we particularly care about was the restoration of a large existing cistern<\/strong>, which is now used for collecting rainwater<\/strong>. This choice also reflects the idea of restoring what was already there and adapting it to contemporary needs without altering the character of the place. The project was also featured in a magazine specialising in sustainable building<\/strong>, in the article \u201cHealth and Well-being in the Home\u201d<\/a><\/em> by Viviana Deruto \u2013 IRSA<\/strong>, published in StrutturaLegno No. 040, March 2023<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restoring means continuing the story<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In your opinion, what is the value of restoring an old building rather than constructing something new? What did you seek to preserve of its original identity?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Restored<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

For us, restoring these old farmhouses means above all continuing a family and local story<\/strong>, rather than erasing it to create a new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the end of the nineteenth century, one of our ancestors had the idea of establishing an agricultural school<\/strong> right here, with the aim of providing the tools needed to ensure that the land around San Rocco and Sant\u2019Ilario could continue to produce resources and support sustainable livelihoods. The school was also among the earliest initiatives of its kind in Europe to open enrolment to women, representing a small but important step towards women’s emancipation. Later, while still alive, our ancestor decided to donate both the school and the land to the State.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Looking back at this history today makes us feel, in a sense, responsible for its legacy. That is why the restoration of the farmhouses, olive grove, orchard<\/strong> and terraces is not simply a building project, but also a way of keeping alive that same spirit of care, sharing and attention to the local area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Experiences to discover and enjoy the hill<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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