Belgodere

The square in front of the Church of San Tumasgiu – Saint Thomas – remains the vibrant heart of the village. A vaulted passageway leads to the old alleyways before reachingE Teghje, the rocky outcrop overlooking the rooftops. The site preserves the remains of a 16th-century fortified tower: from the top of the rocks, the view takes in the valley, the coast and the inland ridges all at once.

In the village, the Church of San Tumasgiu, built in the 16th century and subsequently remodelled in the 18th, stands out as a major landmark. More recent but equally monumental, the silhouette of Malaspina Castle – a vast residence built in 1892 – still dominates the square. The village continues its transformation with the restoration of its passageways and that of the Palazzu, a 19th-century nobleman’s house set to become a beautiful heritage site.

Belgudè provides the perfect setting for craftsmanship to flourish. Within the grounds of Malaspina Castle, Christelle Leandri works with Donna è to develop organic skincare products based on scientific research and local active ingredients such as immortelle. In the village, Jocelyne Boyer, ofAtelier Vetrarte, works with glass to create sculptures, light fittings and contemporary pieces.

The region also retains a strong agricultural tradition. Pietra Macchjahas revived the cultivation of olive and almond trees on reclaimed land. Along the coast, gourmet delights and craftsmanship take centre stage with Les Délices de Juliette and the Cristal de Lune candle workshop. From the village down to the plain, Belgudè proves that history is also being written in the present.