Last minute package: vacation travel in Europe
From the French border along the most spectacular Italian Riviera: the mild Ligurian coast with its pearls of Ventimiglia, Bordighera and Sanremo and a beautiful hinterland, rich in medieval villages clinged on the green hills.
Spring: flowers time, pure air and heart-breaking natural views. All this on the Occident Ligurian coast, more known as Flowers Riviera, with its pearls of Ventimiglia, Bordighera and Sanremo. Bays and harbours, a mild climate and a high tourist animation but also an hinterland of valleys, peaks and narrow passes. The only risk here is never to get bored.
From Capo Cervo, on the French border, we visit the most important archeological area in Liguria, Balzi Rossi: its caves were lived already 240.000 years ago and its Prehistorical Museums collects important traces of the late palaeolithic times. In the Latte hamlet we may visit the Gardens of Villa Hanbury, acclimatisation park for exotic plants created in 1867 by Sir Thomas Hanbury where grow palm trees, cactus, Asian and Australian plants.
Ventimiglia, a bit French and a bit Italian, has always been an important centre on the Western coast. The Roja divides it in two parts: the Medieval part on the hill and the modern quarters in the plain. In Forte Annunziata the "Girolamo Rossi" Museum gathers rests from the excavations of the Roman Albintimilium: glasses, I-VII centuries A.C. headstones and sculptures of the imperial era. Of the ancient city remains a beautiful Roman theatre of the II century B.C.
Sanremo offers a marvellous view: from the blue of the sea to the light and shades of San Romolo pinewood which extens among the hills covered with glasshouses and flowers cultures. In ancient times Sanremo was called Matutia may be a tribute to Matuta, goddess of sea and dawn, who loved this mild gulf.
In spite of its modern and worldly aspect, with nice promenades along the sea rich in shops and fashioning boutiques, the casino and the two tourist ports (Porto Vecchio e Portosole), Sanremo also shows many memories of ancient times: the Medieval Pigna hamlet, the XIII century San Siro cathedral, the Baroque Borea palace hosting the Archeological Museum and placed in panoramic position on the town and the gulf, the XII century sanctuary of Madonna della Costa with a picture by Domenico Fiasella and wooden statues by Anton Maria Maragliano.
Ventimiglia, Sanremo and the Ligurian coast: a green paradise on the sea in Italy