Page 172 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

170  THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A AREA B Y AREA

h Dolceacqua

By a quirk of fate, this delightful medieval village is, View of
Dolceacqua
despite its name (which means “fresh water”), home The picturesque
to one of the most prized and famous red wines in medieval village
Italy, Rossese, a favourite with Napoleon and Pope has narrow
Julius III. Overlooked by the imposing but not alleyways and
tall houses.
overbearing mass of the ruined Castello dei Doria,
the village spreads out on the slopes of the mountain
and is reminiscent of one of Liguria’s traditional
presepi (nativity scenes) when seen from above. The
River Nervia divides Dolceacqua into two. On one
side is the older part, known as Borgo, while the
newer district on the right is called Terra. The artist
Claude Monet, who loved this area, painted the castle
and described the old bridge which links the two
quarters as a “jewel of lightness”.

. Ponte Vecchio
This light and elegant bridge has a single
ogee arch with an impressive span of
33 m (110 ft). Built in the 15th century,
the bridge links the two quarters of Terra
and Borgo, separated by the River Nervia.

KEY
1 Palazzo Doria is where members
of the Doria family settled in the 18th
century after their castle became
uninhabitable. An old passageway
still links the palazzo to the church
of Sant’Antonio, a route that was
reserved for the Doria family alone.
2 The bell tower of Sant’Antonio
Abate forms part of the village’s
encircling walls.
3 The Church of San Giorgio is
located across the river from the old
village (at the end of the bridge
south of this illustration). The Monument to the “Gombo”
13th-century church of San Giorgio This modern work is dedicated
has the remains of a Romanesque to Pier Vicenzo Mela, a local man
bell tower, and a ceiling with who was the first to use an olive
interesting painted beams. In press (gombo) to extract oil, in
the crypt is a Doria family tomb. the 1700s.

For hotels and restaurants in this area see pp182–3 and pp194–7

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