Page 164 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

162  THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A AREA B Y AREA

(village of witches), Triora s Taggia
is famous above all for Imperia. Road Map A5. * 14,000.
the witchcraft trials, held V @ n Via Boselli, Arma di Taggia,
here between 1587 and 0184 437 33. _ Corteo Storico dei
1589. The unique and Rioni (4th Sun in Feb); Festa della
popular Museo Etnografico Maddalena (3rd Sun in Jul); antiques
e della Stregoneria is market (last weekend of month).
devoted to the story of ∑ rivieradeifiori.org ∑ taggia.it
these trials.
The centre of Triora still Lying close to the mouth of
preserves much evidence the Valle Argentina is Taggia,
of the village’s medieval whose 16th-century walls
origins, with little alleys, conceal a fascinating medieval
narrow streets and houses village. One of the most
The church of the Assunta, Triora huddled together around impressive sights is the
small squares. Of seven medieval bridge across the
p Dolcedo original gates, the only survivor Argentina, with 16 arches of
is Porta Soprana, with a which two are Romanesque.
Imperia. Road Map B4–5. * 1,200.
V Imperia. @ n Comune, 0183 rounded arch. Nearby is the Via Soleri, the heart of
280 004. _ La Mongolfiera, Fontana Soprana, the oldest the old centre, is flanked by
traditional country festival (1st fountain in the town. porticoes with black stone
Sun, Sep), organic market (3rd The one sight not to miss arches and many fine old
Sun of month). is the collegiate church of buildings. The Baroque parish
the Assunta. It was originally church of Santi Giacomo e
Situated in the hinterland Romanesque-Gothic and still Filippo is certainly lovely,
behind Porto Maurizio, in retains the old bell tower and but Taggia’s most important
the Prino valley, is Dolcedo, a main door, though the façade monument is the Convento
mountain village with stone- is Neo-Classical. Inside (reduced di San Domenico. Built
paved mule tracks and water- to a single aisle in 1770) there between 1460 and 1490, it
mills along the banks of the are several notable works of is considered to have the
river – evidence of an olive oil art, including several by Luca best collection of works by
tradition dating back to the Cambiaso. However, chief among the Liguria-Nice school. Its
1100s. The local olive groves them is an exquisite painting on master pieces include five
are among the most famous a gold background of the works by the French artist
in the region. Baptism of Christ (1397), by the Ludovico Brea.
There are no less than five Sienese artist Taddeo di Bartolo. It is worth popping down
bridges across the river. The It is the oldest known painting of to Arma di Taggia, a small resort
oldest, known as Ponte Grande, its type in the Riviera di Ponente. just a 10-minute drive along
was built in 1292 by the Knights There is also the delightful the coast. It has a lovely beach,
of St John. church of San Bernardino, as well as several hotels
The parish church of San just outside Triora; its interior and restaurants.
Tommaso overlooks a small is virtually smothered in 15th-
piazza, paved in the Ligurian century frescoes. E Convento di San Domenico
style in black and white pebbles. Piazza Beato Cristoforo. Tel 0184 476
This Baroque jewel was built E Museo Etnografico e 254. Open 9am–noon, 3–6pm
in 1738. della Stregoneria Mon–Sat. &
Corso Italia 1. Tel 0184 944 77.
Open winter 2:30–6pm daily (from
a Triora 10:30am–noon Sat & Sun); summer
10:30am–noon, 3–6:30 pm daily. &
Imperia. Road Map A4. * 500.
V San Remo. @ n Pro Loco, Corso
Italia 7, 0184 944 77. _ Processione Environs
del Monte (2nd Sun after Easter), Festa About 10 km (6 miles) beyond
della Madonna della Misericordia (1st Triora, just a stone’s throw from
Sun in Jul). ∑ comune.triora.im.it the French border, is the tiny
village of Realdo. It is set in a
The old medieval village of stunning position, teetering on
Triora, an outpost of the a rocky cliff at 1,065 m (3,500 ft)
Republic of Genoa, lies near above sea level, with some of
the head of the Valle Argentina. Liguria’s highest peaks as a
With the Ligurian Alps rising backdrop. The houses have a
up behind, this is a truly distinctly Alpine appearance
enchanting place. Also known and the few inhabitants speak The arcaded Via Soleri in Taggia, with its
as the “paese delle streghe” in old Provençal. black stone arches
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp182–3 and pp194–7

162-163_EW_Italian_Riviera.indd 162 09/09/16 10:48 am