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Valleggia apricots are grown in a vast area stretching from Loano to Varazze, up to 984 ft. above sea level.
They have thin skin, orange colour and many brick-red dots. Small in size, but extremely tasty and fragrant.

Napoleonic prefect Gilbert Chabrol del Volvic first mentioned this variety in the Montenotte area, then it was the turn of city of Savona in 1824. The juicy apricots of Valleggia reached their production peak in the 1950s-1960s; orchards covered 900 acres of land, from Loano to Varazze, and represented 70% of the whole local production. They have also been exported to foreign markets, Switzerland and Germany included, with a special express from the Riviera.

From the 70s to the 90s, many orchards were replaced by greenhouses, flower nurseries and private residential areas for tourists. The original cultivations in Quiliano, Finale Ligure and Sportorno – among the biggest in the 1960s – have been recently recovered and restored to their former glory. Although the current production is only a very small percentage of that of 50-60 years ago, new plants have been added next to 50/70-years old specimens. The full potential of all this though has not been exploited yet.

This post is also available in: Italiano (Italian)