"Apricale" a Apricale Travel Page by Renescheffer

14 km and 22 minutes drive from Ventimiglia. About 300 meter above sealevel. We stayed here for just 70 minutes. From Dolceaqua you enter the hills and from here it is not easy to imagine that you can reach the village on a steep top of a hill. We had a good lunch at the Lucertola restaurant (restaurant tip). There is a nice square and there are some more restaurants.

The town centers about the 11th century Castello della Lucertola (Lizard Castle) and the village circles and falls down the hill from there terribly evocative (if you’re driving, park the car, the streets are narrow). The castle, today, is a town museum and exhibition center there’s something going on here all the time (art shows, concerts, meetings very neat). The museum offers history and legends as well as local artifacts of the town (note the architecture and frescoes inside). The town is characterized by stone walls and buildings, alleys, arches, flowers, frescoes and views…..totally wonderful thoroughly beautiful. The 13th century Chiesa Cimiteriale di Sant’Antonio is characterized by a mix of Gothic and Baroque arches. The Oratorio di San Bartolomeo is a 12th century church with a 16th century wooden polyptych. The Chiesa della Madonna degli Angeli has lovely frescoes. In the lower town you’ll find a pretty fountain/Fontana.

Sometimes it happens that a short visit or a meal (Soave on the right side near the bridge) or an article in a paper (restaurant Pomidori in Roma) triggers you to travel a long way to came back to a certain place. Apricale is an example of this.

I think this village is great for people who like quiet Italian village life, dont need boulevards and disco's and like to drive throug the mountains. It is one of the most beautifull hillside villages of Italy. I read about it in a German magazin Geo saison a few years ago. A Ligurian touch with its nearby characteristic seashore landscape gives it extra charm. A ex college of me started here an appartment rental business. http://www.ownersdirect.co.uk/italy/IT148.htm. This triggered me for a short visit to this wonderfull village.
Meanwhile she has started a hotel too (hotel tips)

It was too warm and we where too lazy for a 10 min walk uphill to the center; i hope other travellers are are triggered to visit the square when they see the picture and read the info.