Local Itineraries
We feel very fortunate to live in a part of the world that has such a rich variety of places to visit, whether for culture, walking, siteseeing, or just taking in the natural beauty of mountains, valleys and sea. There are breathtaking mountain landscapes with carpets of flowers (the best months for those are May and June), pretty villages, beautiful and often classy coastal resorts on both sides of the border, and some quite ravishing public gardens - and of course not forgetting the exquisite local cuisine, both Italian and French.
Many of our guests are just happy to sit and relax by our swimming pool all day long! Or they already know where they want to go before they arrive here. But we have also had many requests to help with planning a few local tours, so that they can experience some of the above for themselves. So, this page is for them.
Of course the following tours are only suggestions, but we hope they will be useful - our intention is solely to highlight some outstanding places to visit of which you might not be aware. More information on some of these sites can be found on the "Places to Visit" page of this website.
We at Villatalla are always happy to give any help and advice that you may ask for, and to lend you local road maps and guides. We also have walking maps, either for those of you wanting a gentle stroll in the mountains (perhaps 1-2 hours) or for the more serious walker.
(As an alternative, we have an arrangement with a local driver who has a 9-seater minibus, who can take groups up to 8 in number, if you like the idea of a day out without having to drive. His prices are very competitive, and we can get a quote from him in advance if you wish.)
We have not given many details of the restaurants in this region because the choice is almost limitless. However we know of many on both sides of the border which are outstandingly good, and good value for money too, and we will be happy to recommend them if this is helpful.
The following is a sample selection of tours that can be made from here:-
1. The local villages: Dolceacqua - Apricale - Baiardo - Monte Ceppo - Castelvittorio - Pigna - Isolabona - Rocchetta Nervina
All these villages are special. Dolceacqua, visit the refurbished "castello", walk the "caruggi" (alleyways),
visit the small "Visionarium" cinema (spectacular 3D images of the Val Nervia, plus other programmes
e.g. Tibet, Peru, Greenland, Ethiopia, Hawaii, all are beautifully made), then the amazing perched village
of Apricale, then up to Baiardo, around Monte Ceppo, and back down to Castelvittorio, Pigna, Isolabona,
and if time, the pretty village of Rocchetta Nervina which straddles the Rio Barbaira (a tributary of the Nervia).
2. Bordighera
Famous for its palm trees, and founded by the British! Istituto Studi Liguri (Institute of Ligurian Studies)
and Clarence Bicknell Library, the Pompeo Mariani Foundation Museum (Mariani was a friend and contemporary
of Claude Monet and the finest marine artist of his generation), the Villa Garnier (designed by Charles Garnier who
also designed the Casino in Monte Carlo and the Paris Opera House), the Giardini Pallanca with over 3,000 species
of cactus and other succulents, the old town ("Città Alta") which has huge charm, good restaurants and lovely views,
and two of the biggest trees you will have ever seen, the Thursday morning market all along the "lungomare", and a
bar which serves the best cappuccino in all of the Province of Imperia.
3. San Remo
Home of Giuseppe Garibaldi and author Italo Calvino, a large yacht harbour, the stunning Casino, the
classical Villa Ormond with its garden containing many rare and exotic plants, the beautiful Villa Nobel, the
San Siro Cathedral and a Russian Orthodox church, the new Cycle Track that extends for 24 kms on either
side of the town (you can hire bikes there), many cultural events throughout the summer, and, of course, shopping!
4. Ceriana and Bussana Vecchia
Apricale, with the Castello della Lucertola and the lovely central piazza, then up to Baiardo (a perched
village 900 metres up), down to Ceriana in the Armea valley, a beautiful hill town with tall houses and narrow
streets connected by stairways and vaulted passages, with pretty churches and an oratory (Ceriana is also
famous for its choral singers who perform from time to time through the year), then on towards the coast
to Bussana Vecchia, a medieval village almost completely destroyed by the 1887 earthquake and which
now contains a number of art studios, finally on to the sea front at Arma di Taggia for a well-deserved "gelato".
5. Triora and the Argentina Valley
Pigna, up to Colle Langan, then down to Molini di Triora, up again to Triora (the "witches' village")
with fabulous views (intrepid travellers can drive further on to the amazing perched village of Realdo), back
to Molini di Triora, down the Argentina Valley through Badalucco to Taggia, another stunning medieval village
with vaulted buildings and the richly artistic San Domenico Convent, then back to Villatalla via San Remo.
6. The Arroscia Valley, Colle di Nava and the Alpi Liguri
Autostrade to Imperia Est, then head up the valley to Chiusavecchia, Pieve di Teco (a medieval town
in the high Arroscia Valley - visit the 13th century Oratory of San Giovanni Battista), Pornassio, then the
Colle di Nava at just under 1,000 metres altitude near the Piemonte border, with its shrine dedicated to the
Alpini Regiment (the Italian mountain artillery), visit the Forte Centrale, then drive on to Monesi, an Alpine
ski resort in winter. Return via the same route. More beautiful Alpine landscapes.
7. Colle Melosa
This is for walkers. Again up to Colle Langan, then turn left to Colle Melosa (altitude 1,550 metres),
which has a bar and a restaurant, walks from there include Monte Grai, the famous "Sentiero degli Alpini"
(see the "Local Activities" page of this website), or just a shorter stroll taking in the varied nature of that area.
Stunning mountain scenery.
8. Ventimiglia - Hanbury Botanical Gardens - Balzi Rossi
Ventimiglia covered food market, Ventimiglia Alta (the old town) esp the "Cattedrale" with traces from
the 8th century, and the Chiesa di San Michele, also wonderful views down to the sea, drive along the coast
to the stunning Hanbury Gardens, the largest botanical garden in Europe, originally created by Sir Thomas Hanbury
of London in the 1850s, finally drive to Balzi Rossi right on the border with France, visit the caves and the
Museum with prehistoric remains, opportunity to swim there, return to Villatalla.
9. Val Roya
The valley that extends north of Ventimiglia. Breil-sur-Roya, the stunning perched village of Saorge built
on seemingly impossible terrain, with its 15th century Eglise St Sauveur, St Dalmas-de-Tende perhaps best
known for its railway station building erected on the orders of Mussolini to "assert Italy's omnipotence" at
its then frontier, ancient La Brigue and the extraordinary 12th century Chapel of Notre Dame des Fontaines,
the Col de Brouis, the ancient market town of Sospel on the Bevera river, the relatively young village of
Castillon famous for its harmonious architecture, flowers and art galleries, then Menton and home.
Gorgeous landscapes.
10. The Parc National du Mercantour and the Vallée des Merveilles
Drive up the Val Roya to Tende, there visit the excellent and fascinating Musée des Merveilles,
also the cemetery atop the hill overlooking the town where Clarence Bicknell, the British naturalist
and explorer, was buried, then drive back to St Dalmas-de-Tende, turn right up the Vallon de la Minière
towards Casterino, the Parc du Mercantour can be accessed either from the Lac des Mesches or from
Casterino. The hamlet of Casterino contains a few small hotels with restaurants and little else, but from
there you can walk up into the mountains and pastures in the midst of absolutely spectacular scenery, these
walks can be short or long as desired. A longer walk (or a guided tour either on foot or in 4-by-4s) will bring
you to the ancient "Merveilles" - tens of thousands of rock engravings and carvings dating back to 3,200BC
originally discovered and recorded by Clarence Bicknell, in the late 19th century.
If you wish to do both tours 9 and 10, best to include Tende and its museum in tour 9, to give you
maximum time in the Mercantour.
11. Menton town
Park near the harbour, visit Vieux Menton esp the Basilique St Michel l'Archange, the
Chapelle des Pénitents Blancs, and the fascinating Cimetière du Vieux Chateau from which there are
commanding views of the whole of the bay of Menton, and where the grave of the Rev William Webb
Ellis is located (he founded the game of rugby), the charming Monastère de l'Annonciade (again wonderful
views), the covered food market open weekday mornings, many beautiful buildings, the yacht harbour, the
long beaches, and over 100 restaurants to choose from.
12. Menton - the gardens
These are outstanding, and they are all very different from one other - the Jardin Serre de la Madone
created by American Lawrence Johnston (who had already started the garden at Hidcote Manor in
Gloucestershire), the exotic Jardin Val Rahmeh, the Jardin Fontana Rosa with its Spanish ceramics, the
Jardin Maria Serena on the sea front and attributed to Charles Garnier, and the citrus fruit Jardin du Palais Carnolès.
13. Menton to Roquebrune coastal walk
Park in Carnolès at the far end of Menton, walk the coastal path around Cap Martin (great views of
Menton and Monaco), enter Roquebrune, picnic either on the Plage du Buse or the Golfe Bleu which are
either side of the Pointe de Cabbé, then either
walk back on the road to Carnolès, or take the train back there from Roquebrune, or for the more adventurous,
continue along the coastal path to Monaco (tea and cakes at the Café de Paris?), and return by train from there.
14. French Villages
Saint Agnès, the highest coastal village with view down to the Cote d'Azur, with its extensive underground
Fort (the last in the Maginot Line before the Mediterranean) which can be visited, Gorbio, Roquebrune
(the upper Vieux Village), La Turbie above Monaco with the Trophée des Alpes, an impressive monument
built by the Roman Emperor Tiberius. Further inland towards the mountains, there are dozens of very pretty small villages.
15. Monaco
Can easily be reached by train as well as by car, Monaco really is precipitous, and has gigantic skyscrapers.
Visit Monaco Cathedral, the Casino, the Café de Paris, the State Apartments at the Prince's Palace, the huge
Oceanographic Museum, the steep Jardins Exotiques and caves, and the harbour containing many super-yachts
of the mega-rich. You can also walk part of the route of the Monaco Grand Prix (or even attend it, if you like noise).
16. Villefranche and St Jean-Cap-Ferrat
Monaco exit from autoroute A8, take the Moyenne Corniche (spectacular coastal views) through Eze village
(perched high up overlooking the sea), at Villefranche, a delightful seaside town, visit the Citadel with its gardens
and museums, the Rue Obscure and the Eglise St Michel in the old part, and the lovely harbour, then St Jean-Cap-Ferrat,
and the Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild, an absolutely beautiful Villa and Gardens complete with jolly musical fountains,
the Villa Kerylos (built in ancient Greek style), Beaulieu-sur-Mer, then return by the coastal road through
Eze-Bord-de-Mer and back up to the autoroute.
17. Nice
Park near the harbour, walk to the Cours Saleya with its markets (flowers, fruit and veg, antiques),
museums (all free) such as the Palais Massena Museum, the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art,
the Musée des Beaux Arts and the Musée Matisse, also the Palais Lascaris, the fabulous Russian Orthodox
Cathedral (the largest one outside Russia), the Place Massena, the Jardin Albert 1er, and the Chateau sited
on a hill overlooking the whole of Nice, amongst many other monuments and sites, also the famous Promenade
des Anglais extending for several kilometres along the sea front.
18. The "Alpha" Wolf Sanctuary
Autoroute to Nice, then north towards Digne, turn right into the Gorges de la Vésubie, through
Lantosque, Roquebillière, and St Martin-Vésubie, continue north to Le Boréon (beautiful cascade), the
sanctuary is just after. Opened in 2005, it is extremely well laid out, plenty of space for the wolves to roam,
and you can enjoy watching them from hides - and don't miss feeding time!
19. Antibes
Autoroute A8 to the fascinating ancient town of Antibes, follow "Centre Ville", then "Port Vauban"
which is a very large harbour with a vast number of yachts of all sizes, park there or in car parks nearby.
Explore the small medieval streets and squares, visit the covered food market open on weekday mornings,
the Picasso Museum in the Chateau Grimaldi, the ramparts, the huge 16th century Fort Carré with its museum,
and enjoy the long sandy beaches. Drive on along the coastal road southwards, to the sandy Plage de la Garoupe,
a truly enchanting spot where you can stop for lunch at the "Le Rocher" restaurant just where the beach starts
and eat literally at the water's edge (anything from omelettes to grilled sardines to fillet steaks at exceptionally
reasonable prices considering where you are). There's a lovely walk from there around the point. Then visit
Cap d'Antibes, Juan les Pins, and back to the autoroute.
20. The Iles de Lérins
A wonderful day out. Autoroute to Cannes, park at the main harbour, ferry to the Ile Ste Marguerite
(15mins), spend the day there walking on level footpaths amongst umbrella pines and eucalyptus trees,
swimming in the sea, enjoying the tranquillity (well away from the chaos of Cannes!) and the wildlife,
and visiting the Fort Royal, the fortress prison in which the so-called Man in the Iron Mask was held
prisoner in the 17th century. Alternatively take the ferry from Cannes to the smaller Ile St Honorat
(30 mins), where there is a monastery, and even more tranquillity!
