Apricale
Member of I Borghi più belli d'Italia
In 1267 the counts of Ventimiglia gave Apricale statutes counted among the oldest in Liguria, with punishments that included burying a murderer alive alongside his victim. The medieval village climbs a rocky spur in the hills behind Bordighera, about 13 km from the coast, around the Castello della Lucertola. Its bell tower, once a castle tower, has carried an upturned bicycle since 2000.
Highlights
- Castello della Lucertola, used for exhibitions, with Luzzati's tarot figures
- La forza della non gravità, Sergio Bianco's bicycle atop the bell tower
- Santa Maria degli Angeli, at the foot of the village, with 15th-century frescoes
- Rossese di Dolceacqua, the local DOC wine (IT)
- A sailing ship on the coat of arms, recalling timber for Genoa's fleet
Text adapted from Wikipedia (Apricale (IT), Apricale (EN)), Wikivoyage (Apricale (IT), Apricale (EN)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Population: 626
Things to see
Events through the year
- Apricale TangoArgentine tango evenings, dances and shows
- Feast of Saint ValentineIn the square in front of the castle
- E le stelle stanno a guardareTeatro della Tosse stages a walking play through the village lanes
- Feast of the Nativity of Mary
- Sagra della PansarolaPansarola, a local sweet fritter, in the castle square
Dates follow the traditional patterns in our sources: check locally before you travel.
Adapted from Wikipedia (Apricale), Wikivoyage (Apricale). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Local food & wine
- Taggiasca olive oilOlive oilOil from the Taggiasca olive; new oil is celebrated each year
Rossese di DolceacquaPublic domain- PansarolaSweetSweet fritters with their own September festival
- Rabbit with olives in Rossese wineDish
- Tagliarini al pestoDish
Adapted from Wikipedia (Apricale), Wikivoyage (Apricale (EN), Apricale (IT)). Available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to sleep
5 places to stay within 3 km
- Hotels 2
- B&Bs and guest houses 2
- Campsites 1
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
Thermal baths nearby
- Thermal spa: Thermes de Berthemont · ~1 h 56 by car
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).