Italy

Dolceaqua

Small Italian towns and villages with a history are of particular charm, they make up the main impression of Liguria. Dolceaqua is a small old town located in a valley near the Ligurian Sea and the Italian-French border. Its main attractions, the castle and the bridge, are captured on the canvas of the French artist Monet.

Dolceaqua - stone labyrinths of a medieval mountain village, photo regis dubus

The history of the mountain village

The small town of Dolceacqua or Dolceacqua, which is often called the "mountain village", stands at the foot of Mount Rebuffao, in the Nervia Valley, Liguria region. This land belonged to the counts of Ventimiglia in the Middle Ages. In the middle of the XII century a castle was laid here, which later became the core of the town. In 1270, the city passed to the admiral of the Genoese fleet - Oberto Doria; in the 16th century it was captured by the Savoy dynasty; in the XIX century - became part of the Sardinian kingdom.

The bridge is a symbol of Dolceacqua

About two thousand people live in the commune of Dolceacqua. The river Nervia flows through the center of the village, it divides the town into new and old parts: Borgo (Borgo) and Terra (Terra). The coast is connected by a convex stone bridge - a symbol of Dolceacqua. This bridge impressed Claude Monet, who visited here in 1884. The artist called it "the pearl of lightness" - gioiello di leggerezza. Monet painted a bridge over Nervia on several famous canvases.

Bridge over the Nervia River, photo Fabrizio

Monet's work, photo photopoesie

Old city

Doria Castle (Castello Doria) dominates the historical ensemble of Dolceaqua. Around it are built houses with bright tiled roofs. The old city makes a stunning impression on tourists. Its narrow cobbled streets merge into continuous mazes of high gloomy walls of rough stone. All of them lead to the castle. A strip of light penetrates these stone tunnels only from above, and at night it is completely dark. Through the entire old center, from the main square to the castle, passes the Scasasse gallery street. Steps overgrown with wild grass climb a steep castle hill.

Dolceacqua Street, photo by Andrea Pesce

Another street, photo by Federico

City square, photo by marco piccardo

Dolceacqua has art and craft workshops, local produce shops, and wine cellars (the red wine Rossese di Dolceacqua is produced here). The town preserved the church of St. George (Chiesa di San Giorgio) of the 11th century, in the crypt of which the graves of Stefano Doria (1580) and Giulio Doria Stefano Doria (1608) are preserved. The Pinacoteca Morscio art gallery is open (you can visit it only by appointment).

Doria Castle

Doria Castle in 1745 was almost completely devastated during the war, the earthquake of 1887 finally turned it into ruins. From the stone stronghold that once guarded the entrance to the Nervia Valley, only three towers remained: two rectangular, one cylindrical. Today, concerts are held on these ruins, and performances are staged.

Old and new city, photo by alessandro calzolaro

Watch the video: Dolceaqua (November 2024).

Popular Posts

Category Italy, Next Article

Graphene-based self-cleaning windows invented in Italy
Society

Graphene-based self-cleaning windows invented in Italy

In the course of research at two Italian universities, Sassari and Cagliari, an innovative “chemical exfoliation” technology was developed that allows the windows to “self-clean” using only sunlight. The new development is another way to use the material, for the study of which in 2010, scientists have already received the Nobel Prize.
Read More
Italian escaped from annoying wife in jail
Society

Italian escaped from annoying wife in jail

A resident of Rome begged the police to take him into custody and send him to prison, explaining his unusual desire by the fact that he was extremely tired of his wife. The 37-year-old Italian father of three children turned to the Tor Bella Monaca police station in the eastern part of Rome. “Put me in jail, otherwise it will end badly,” a desperate man demanded.
Read More
8 out of 10 Italians celebrate Easter with their parents or friends
Society

8 out of 10 Italians celebrate Easter with their parents or friends

Despite the fact that fewer and fewer Italians look at shops on the eve of Easter, this holiday is still very popular in a country whose residents (41 percent) still prefer to see Easter lamb cooked according to a traditional recipe, surrounded by vegetables. It is such data that the Italian Association of Farmers Coldiretti received by conducting a survey before the great holiday.
Read More