Balestrino

Balestrino (Barestin or Balestrin) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 70 km southwest of Genoa and about 30 km southwest of Savona. As of 31 December 2011, it had a population of 607 and an area of 11.3 km2.

History
Balestrino is composed by the old historic town, upon a hill, and the new town below it. Abandoned in 1953 for hydrogeological instability, the old centre is a ghost town whereas the modern center is still inhabited today.

Geography
Balestrino borders the following municipalities: Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena, Ceriale, Cisano sul Neva, Toirano, and Zuccarello. It counts the hamlets (frazioni) of Bergalla, Borgo, Cuneo, and Poggio.

Other

 * There are small medieval and renaissance crossbows known as balestrino crossbows (aka assassins crossbows).