Ventimiglia Attractions
Ventimiglia (9m/30ft; pop. 27,000), the frontier town, situated at the mouth of the River Roia, with an important flower market. In the new town, to the east of the river, are the Town Hall and the palm-shaded Giardino Pubblico; in the picturesque walled old town, on the hill west of the river, are the Romanesque cathedral, with an adjoining baptistery, and the 11th century church of San Michele (columns with Roman inscriptions). From the Piazzale del Capo, a little way south of the cathedral, there are magnificent views, extending westwards as far as Cap Ferrat.
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Balzi Rossi
One km/0.75mi west of the Giardino Hanbury, near the French frontier, are the Balzi Rossi, caves hewn from rock, which were inhabited in prehistoric times (skeletons, etc. in the museum near the Barma Grande).
Dolceaqua, Italy
(Near Ventimiglia)
From Ventimiglia an attractive excursion can be made up the beautiful Nervia valley to the little town of Dolceaqua (50m/165ft), picturesquely situated on a hillside, with an old bridge 10m/33ft high, borne on pointed arches, and a ruined castle which was the ancestral home of the Doria family of Genoa.
Giardino Hanbury
From Ventimiglia there is a rewarding trip to the Giardino Hanbury with a variety of rare plants (about 6km/3.75mi west in Mortola Inferiore), laid out by the Englishman Thomas Hanbury.
Isolabona, Italy
(Near Ventimiglia)
4km/2.5mi from Dolceaqua is the village of Isolabona (ruined castle), and 2km/1.25mi beyond this in a side valley is the hill village of Apricale, clinging picturesquely to a steep hillside.
