Dolceacqua

The Nervia is crossed here by a stone bridge of a single arch spanning about thirty-three metres, built in the fifteenth century, with the old quarter and the ruined Doria castle stacked on the slope behind it. Claude Monet came in 1884 and painted the bridge and castle several times, describing the bridge in a letter as a jewel of lightness. The old part of the village, called the Terra, is a warren of covered alleys and steps under the castle. Rossese di Dolceacqua, a red wine from the surrounding terraces, was among the first Ligurian wines to receive a DOC in 1972.

What you actually see

• The single-arch bridge - a 33-metre medieval span Monet painted.
• The Doria castle - a ruined fortress above the old quarter.
• The Terra - covered alleys and steps under the castle rock.
• The Rossese vines - terraced red wine slopes around the village.

When to go

April to October; the village is small and busiest on summer weekends with day trippers from the coast. Harvest is September. Winter is quiet and cool inland.

Honest expectations

The old quarter is steep, stepped and dark in places. The castle is a ruin with limited interpretation. Parking is by the river and fills quickly.

Nearby

Ventimiglia lies on the coast; the French border is close.