The area is the most western part of Liguria, bordering with France. The mild climate was well known to the British already in the eighteenth century. Ventimiglia is just a few kilometers away from the French border and the many attractions of the Cote d'Azur. Montecarlo is half an hour away and Nice is just 40 kilometers from Ventimiglia.
The property is in the Città Alta of Ventimiglia, the second largest medieval quarter in Liguria along with Albenga, after Genoa. A walk bridge above the Roja river divides the modern part of Ventimiglia from the old town. The Città Alta has a cathedral from the 12th century and wonderful views. Other historical buildings worth of notice are the Parliament Loggia (or Merchants loggia) dated 14th – 15th century with a double Gothic arch and Palazzo Vescovile with the 14th century wooden panel painting 'Madonna with Child and Angels' by Barnaba da Modena. The Aprosiana Library, founded in 1649, was the first public library of Liguria and preserves historically interesting and valuable manuscripts. A couple of hundred meters away from the old city there are the pebble beaches mostly free of charge and plenty of beachfront bars and restaurants. There is also a free sand beach a 15 minutes walk from the apartment. Ventimiglia has a huge Friday market with 500 stalls. Besides this, there is another market in Ventimiglia that is a special place for anyone who loves good food. It is the covered market, open 7 days a week, a couple of hundred meters from the beachfront, which has the finest and freshest produce, fruit, vegetables, cheeses, pasta, meat, fresh seafood and flowers that the region has to offer.
In addition to Ventimiglia there are plenty of seaside resorts on the Italian and French side a short distance away. Five kilometers from Ventimiglia there is Bordighera with its long seafront promenade, mostly traffic-free. There is a small old town area (Bordighera Alta) above the small harbour. A further 10 kilometers away there is San Remo, a pleasant and busy little place, great for shopping, with a couple of harbours, a cathedral, an old town area (the Pigna), and other attractions such as the Villa Nobel and pleasant garden areas. The Val Roja and the Val Nervia with unspoiled landscapes and the pictoresque villages of Airole, Dolceaqua, Apricale, Pigna etc.etc. are 10-20 minutes driving away. The high val Nervia is part of the Regional Natural Park of the Ligurian Alps and although so close to the sea, offers one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Alps.
Liguria region
Liguria, often called the "Italian Riviera", is one of Italy's smallest regions, but can boast many fashionable resorts. It lies in north-western Italy, bordering with France. The region features impressive mountains and lovely hills, colored by the green Mediterranean turf and overlooking the Ligurian Sea. read more