Page 146 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

144  THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A AREA B Y AREA

Lorenzo, with a tall 6 Bergeggi
bell tower, dates from Savona. Road Map C4. * 1,200.
1630–40, though it was V @ n Pro Loco, Via Aurelia 1,
modified later. Local 019 859 777 (seasonal).
gastronomic specialities ∑ turismoinliguria.it
are fruit­flavoured
amaretti and black This small but busy coastal
truffles, best tasted resort lies in a lovely spot on
with a glass of the the slopes of Monte Sant’Elena.
local Dolcetto wine. Records of a settlement on this
Millesimo, 27 km site date back to Roman times.
The Ponte della Gaietta at Millesimo (17 miles) from Savona, Its strategic position and its
is a charming hill town defences enabled the town to
Environs and the main centre in the fend off Saracen raids in the 10th
Heading inland from Savona upper Valle Bormida. It retains and 11th centuries. In 1385,
the first place of interest, about well­preserved traces of the Bergeggi became the seat of a
14 km (9 miles) from the coast, late Middle Ages. The ruined colony of deportees set up by
is Altare in the Apennines. This castle (1206), on the edge of the Republic of Genoa, which
town has been famous for the the town, dominates from governed the town at that time.
production of glass since at above, and once belonged to the The town is distinctive for its
least the 11th century, before Del Carretto family. The castle, houses with roof terraces over­
Murano glass from Venice came like the town, later passed to looking the sea, and is famous
onto the scene. The Museo the Spanish, and eventually for its Claudio restaurant, which
del Vetro e dell’Arte Vetraria ended up in the hands of serves some of the best
houses both antique and the House of Savoy. (and dearest) seafood
modern examples, as well as The central Piazza on the entire Riviera.
objects from the local school Italia, much of it Traces of the Middle
of engraved glass, and docu­ arcaded, is very pretty. Ages can be seen
ments and books related to the The so­called Torre, in two look­out
subject, some as much as 800 now the town hall, towers: the Torri
years old. The displays include dates from around di Avvistamento, at
some splendid vases in blue 1300 and was a Del the top of the town;
crystal decorated in pure gold. Carretto residence. and the parish church
Also in the town is the church The most striking of San Martino which
of the Annunziata (late 15th cen­ monument in the Coat of arms on the Porta dates from the early
tury), with a bell tower belong­ town is the Ponte Soprana, Cairo 18th century.
ing to an earlier Roman building, della Gaietta, whose Montenotte The ruins of two
and the late 17th­century simple design, complete ancient churches, a
Baroque church of Sant’Eugenio, with watch tower, dates from monastery and a tower can be
whose façade is flanked by the 12th to 13th centuries. seen on the nearby island of
two bell towers. On the nearby Bergeggi, an important religious
hill of Cadibona is the Forte E Museo del Vetro e centre in the Middle Ages. Now
Napoleonico della Bocchetta, dell’Arte Vetraria uninhabited, and also a nature
built in the late 18th century. Villa Rosa, Piazza Consolato 4, reserve, the island is covered in
Nine km (6 miles) beyond Altare. Open 4–7pm Tue–Fri thick vegetation. The entrance to
Altare, on the left bank of the & Sun, 3–7pm Sat. a cave, 37 m (121 ft) long and 17
River Bormida di Spigno, lies ∑ museodelvetro.org m (23 ft) wide, is visible at sea
Cairo Montenotte, important
historically because Austro­
Piemontese troops were
defeated here by Napoleon
Bonaparte in 1796.
Within the town, a large
tower, called the Torrione, and
the ogival Porta Soprana are all
that remain of the original circle
of 14th­century walls. On the
hill overlooking the village are
the ruins of an old castle, also
dating from the 14th century
and belonging originally to the
Del Carretto family, local lords
during the Middle Ages.
The parish church of San Bergeggi rooftops, with Bergeggi island in the background
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp182–3 and pp194–7

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