Dolceacqua

With its Roman bridge spanning the Nervia river, it’s impossible not to be charmed by the ancient Castello dei Doria, the castle that symbolises Dolceacqua.

A unique village with narrow alleyways and evocative chiaroscuro effects, and a magic so fascinating that Claude Monet was moved to paint it on a number of occasions.

Legend has it that Lucrezia’s ghost still wonders through the castle; so as not to surrender to the Lord’s Jus Primae Noctis, she allowed herself to die in the castle’s dungeon. Her resistance is celebrated every August, as it has been for more than seven centuries, with small traditional lemon biscuits, Michette.

August also sees the astonishing musical fireworks display with the simulated torching of the castle.

Dolceacqua is also recognised as having received the first DOC guarantee ever to be awarded in Liguria, for its Rossese di Dolceacqua, a soft, sweet, aromatic, ruby red wine.