Page 171 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

THE RIVIER A DI PONENTE  169

g Pigna h Dolceacqua Capo Sant’Ampelio, is the
Romanesque church of
Imperia. Road Map A4. * 1,015. See pp170–71. Sant’Ampelio, with an
V Ventimiglia. @ n Comune,
Piazza Umberto I, 0184 241 016. j Bordighera 11th-century crypt. It stands
on the spot where Ampelio
(a hermit who later became
Imperia. Road Map A5. * 11,300.
Situated in the foothills of the V @ n Via Vittorio Emanuele II a saint), once lived.
Maritime Alps in the Alta Val 172–174, 0184 262 322. _ Bordighera In the historical centre, look
Nervia, some 40 km (25 miles) Città dell’Umorismo, a festival of out for the 17th-century church
north of San Remo, Pigna is a humour (late Apr–early May); Sagra of Santa Maria Maddalena,
fascinating place – its form is del Pesce (mid-Jul); Berlecata Sasso with a fine early 16th-century
reminiscent of the eponymous (early Aug). ∑ visitrivieradeifiori.it marble sculpture on the high
district in San Remo. Strolling altar, attributed to the workshop
around the narrow streets, The famous painting by Monet, of Domenico Parodi. In nearby
known as chibi, it is easy to A View of Bordighera, is evidence Piazza De Amicis there is a
under stand how the medieval of the historic fame of this sunny marble fountain (1783) featuring
town was built, with the houses and lively resort. As was the case a statue of Magiargiè, who was
grouped defensively on elsewhere on the Riviera, Bordig- a slave to the Spanish Moors
concentric streets. hera was particularly popular and died in Bordighera.
Among a number of fine with the British. Here, too, visitors For a quiet interlude, visit the
churches, the most important will find Art Nouveau palazzi Giardino Esotico Pallanca,
is the church of San Michele, (many con ver ted into hotels or which has more than 3,000
founded in 1450. A splendid apartments), and a popular species of cacti and succulents.
white marble rose window, seafront boule vard – the Lungo-
perhaps the work of Giovanni mare Argentina, with Capo E Biblioteca Museo
Gagini from the early 1500s, Sant’ Ampelio at the far end. The Clarence Bicknell
adorns the façade. Inside, the beach is good and often busy, Via Bicknell 3. Tel 0184 263 694.
Polyptych of St Michael is a and dotted with palm trees. Open 8:30am–1pm, 1:30–4:45pm
monumental work by the The Biblioteca Museo Mon, 9am–1pm Tue–Thu.
Piemontese artist Clarence Bicknell Closed public hols.
Canavesio (1500s), was founded by Y Giardino Esotico Pallanca
in which the Clarence Bicknell, Via Madonna della Ruota 1. Tel 0184
influence of the who was one of 266 347. Open winter: 9am–5pm
Brea brothers (see Bordighera’s many daily; summer: 9am–12:30pm, 2:30–
p163) is evident. British visitors, a 7pm daily. & ∑ pallanca.it
Also by vicar, botanist
Canavesio are and an archae-
the frescoes ologist. Bicknell’s
portraying The The rose window at San library-cum-
Passion of Christ, Michele, Pigna museum houses
housed in the small Roman funerary
church of San Bernardo, within objects and, more interestingly,
the cemetery. Other places of casts of rock drawings and a
interest are the ruins of the vast photo-graphic archive of
church of San Tommaso, and ancient graffiti from the nearby Plaque welcoming people to
Piazza Castello, with superb Vallée des Merveilles in France. Seborga, near Bordighera
views over the village of There is a handful of sights of
Castel Vittorio. historic interest. By the sea, on Environs
In a lofty position about 12 km
(7 miles) north of Bordighera is
the ancient village of Seborga,
which, along with its 350 inhabi-
tants, enjoys the unexpected
title of “principality”. Thanks to a
historical anomaly, the town was
able to elect its own sovereign,
Giorgio I, in 1963, and pass a
constitution. The town has its
own currency, the luigino
(Seborga’s first mint was set up
by Bene-dictine monks in 1660),
print their own stamps, and
its cars carry SB on their
Cacti in the tropical garden of Pallanca at Bordighera licence plates.
For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp182–3 and pp194–7

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