Villa a schiera in Montalto Carpasio

The cluster sits in the foothills of the Ligurian Alps (Alpi Liguri), with the local ground formed by steep ridges and narrow stream valleys. Small streams in the area drain southwards into rivers that reach the Ligurian Sea. Parts of the Ligurian Alps in northern Imperia province are included in the Parco Naturale Regionale delle Alpi Liguri. The immediate area is reached by provincial roads and served by low-frequency regional bus links rather than high-frequency rail. The nearest larger towns on the coast are Imperia and Sanremo, which provide regional rail connections, hospitals and wider commercial services. The province of Imperia and its inland valleys are known for Taggiasca olives and olive oil production and for a landscape of small, historically medieval hill villages and agricultural terraces.