On the Italian Riviera dei Fiori at the border with France, the seaside resort of Ventimiglia entices with a picturesque old town that nestles on the right bank of the Roia River. Proud, venerable buildings, including impressive churches and gates, characterize the medieval ambiance of the town. Long sandy beaches invite you to swim and sunbathe.
Table of contents
Thomas Hanbury traveled to Italy, where in 1867 he acquired what is now Villa Hanbury and the associated garden with an area of 18 hectares. Together with his brother Daniel, he dedicated himself to cultivating various plants. Today, the Hanbury Botanical Garden is owned by the University of Genoa. A signposted path leads through the different garden zones past the tomb of Thomas Hanbury and his wife to the Roman road Via Julia Augusta and down to the coast.
During a visit to the spa town, you should not miss the old town of Ventimiglia. In the winding alleys, you will discover buildings such as the 10th-century Santa Maria Assunta Cathedral or the 16th-century Piedmont Gate. Small shops, Ligurian restaurants, and wine bars line the narrow streets of Ventimiglia's old town. Sometimes the winding alleys offer views of the Roya river valley, bordered by green mountains, and entice visitors to stop for a photo.
Above the historic old town of Ventimiglia towers the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta. According to tradition, the basilica was built between the 11th and 12th centuries on the foundations of a church from the Carolingian period. A special eye-catcher is the presbytery with an octagonal lantern. The barrel vault of the three-nave church is supported by columns in the Romanesque style. The pointed arch portal dates from the year 1222. Marvel inside the basilica at the artistic paintings and the Marian fresco with child from the 14th century.
You will find the Church of San Michele Arcangelo in the municipality of Ventimiglia, right at Piazza Colleta. The small bell tower and the curved entrance portal are distinctive. Inside, the ancient masonry creates a medieval atmosphere. Admire the elevated altar area with the Madonna sculpture and the historical medieval frescoes on the otherwise bare stone walls. Impressive are the three milestones of the Via Julia Augusta, which serve as pillars and supports.
Ventimiglia is located on the border with France. Presumably, this makes one feel even more Italian than in the rest of the country. Against the azure backdrop of the Adriatic, life pulses especially vibrantly at the Ventimiglia market. Do as the French do, who also prefer to buy affordable freshness. The tomatoes are just as crisp and sun-red as Les tomates, but significantly cheaper than on the neighboring Côte d'Azur. In addition to food, you will also find clothing and household items.
From the center of Ventimiglia, the Calandre Beach can be reached with about a 30-minute walk. The path leads over steps and gravel. Visitors will find a small, hidden sandy beach, quietly located with a shore that gently slopes into the sea. Rent a comfortable lounger with an umbrella from the beach's own rental service. Showers and toilets are also available. A small bar offers refreshments and snacks, allowing you to spend an entire day at Calandre Beach.
On a slope above the Riviera di Ponente rises the 19th-century Forte dell’Annunziata. The historic fortress served during the time of Napoleon Bonaparte to defend the medieval town of Ventimiglia in the Italian region of Liguria. Today, it houses the Archaeological City Museum and is developing into a significant cultural center.
The Civio Girolamo Rossi Museum, covering 1,200 square meters, comprises seven rooms on the mezzanine of the Forte dell’Annunziata. Located near the old town of Ventimiglia on the Ligurian Riviera Ponente, the Italian museum houses more than 700 artifacts, mostly discovered during the excavation work of the Roman city of Albintimilium in the 19th century.
Imposing red shimmering rock formations form the impressive Balzi Rossi caves on the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente. 30,000-year-old bone finds from the 19th century indicate settlement in the Stone Age. The cave system, consisting of seven caves, is located below the seaside resort of Ventimiglia and is one of Europe's most impressive excavation sites.
Ancient thermal baths, remnants of a city wall, and detailed mosaic floors are among the most significant finds of the Roman city Albintimilium from the early Middle Ages. The well-preserved theater gives an idea of how citizens once gathered here for entertainment shows. The archaeological site in the Italian city of Ventimiglia is one of the most fascinating in Liguria.
After breakfast, you explore Ventimiglia's old town on foot. There, you admire the Cathedral of Ventimiglia from the 11th/12th century, which features a typical Romanesque octagonal baptismal font. Also worth seeing are the Monastery of the Lateran Canonesses or the Church of San Michele Arcangelo with its mighty walls dating from the 10th to 12th centuries. In Via Garibaldi, you see the Loggia del Parlamente from the 14th/15th century, a building made of large stone blocks with sturdy pointed arches. Not far from there, the Aprosiana Library, founded in 1648, awaits you with around 7,000 volumes and some paintings, before continuing to the Oratorio di San Secondo detto "dei neri." In the tiny church with a black-and-white checkered marble floor, you are greeted by an illuminated figure of Jesus, depicting the Son of God after the removal from the cross, as well as other depictions of the dead. To conclude, you visit the Piazzale Funtanin, where you admire the incoming ships in the Cala del Forte harbor while enjoying an aperitif.
In the morning, take a walk to the Porta Canarda city gate located outside the old town. From this medieval defensive structure with a 10-meter high tower and pointed arch, you can overlook not only the deep blue sea but also the main road, which as early as the 13th century connected Italy and France as the Via Augusta. From there, you can see the Annunziata Fortress, which houses the Girolamo Rossi Archaeological Museum. The museum, open to the public since 1984, displays around 700 significant archaeological artifacts (mainly from ancient Albintimilium) over 1,200 square meters. Discover Roman inscriptions from the ancient site, numerous busts, reliefs, heads, as well as ceramic furnishings such as glasses, cups, spice, and perfume bottles from the 1st and 2nd centuries AD. After this cultural event, visit the nearby Le Calande beach, which invites you for a swim in the Mediterranean. Alternatively, take a seat at the beach bar and end the day with a snack and a Spritz Veneziano.
In the early morning, you set off for the Hanbury Gardens near Latte Ventimiglia. Founded around 1860 by Sir Hansbury, the approximately 18,000-hectare park is home to around 6,000 Mediterranean and exotic plants from all over the world, thanks to its favorable climatic conditions. This makes it one of the most significant acclimatization gardens in Europe. You wander between rosemary, laurel, and broom shrubs on gently winding paths. Lush oleanders, agaves, cacti, prickly pears, and yucca palms line the paths of this magical garden. Inside, you discover the best-preserved section of the ancient Roman road Via Julia Augusta as well as ancient support and enclosure walls. Afterwards, you visit the Balzi Rossi caves near the Italian-French border, which include a prehistoric museum. The caves, among the most important Paleolithic sites in Europe, are located in the picturesque coastal section of Grimaldi and owe their name to the red rock walls. There, the remains of Cro-Magnon humans were once found.