Bordighera town

Bordighera town

Known as "Queen of the Palms", Bordighera town has historically been one of the seaside resorts most beloved by foreigners and, in particular, by the English, who were visiting this stretch even a century ago. With the colours of its sky and the vegetation characterised by numerous palm trees, Bordighera town has not only captured the heart of the English but also that of Claude Monet, who was inspired by the beauty of this landscape. An elegant city, Bordighera town is traversed by the longest promenade of the Riviera, with an extensive history that dates back to ancient Egypt.

Nome in dialetto: Burdighéa

IAT: Via Vittorio Emanuele, Bordighera

Telefono: 018 4262882

Email: iat@bordighera.it

In the third volume of the series “Ritratto di Bordighera town” (Portrait of Bordighera town), the legend surrounding the Church of Sant'Ampelio and its Saint is explored in depth.

The Church of Sant’Ampelio

Legend has it that Ampelio, an Egyptian hermit, came to Bordighera town bearing the seeds of date palms as a gift. Visiting the Church of Sant’Ampelio, constructed in honour of its patron saint, you can admire one of the most evocative lookouts of Bordighera town. Constructed on the rocks, it overlooks the sea as the sentry of Capo Sant’Ampelio, Liguria's southernmost promontory.

This is how Monet described Bordighera town as soon as he arrived there: “Everything is admirable, and the countryside is more beautiful every day, and I am bewitched by the town”

The historic town

Retuning back up to the promontory overlooking Capo Ampelio and crossing a fortification, you will reach the old city, being the historic village defended by walls of medieval origin. Here, you can be lost in Piazza del Popolo, the main square of upper Bordighera town, strolling along the alleys by which it is characterised. The old city is also where the relics of Sant’Ampelio, a 17th century church, are safeguarded.

At the end of the 19th century, many British guests moved to Bordighera town for the winter in hotels and villas. It is said that there were 3,000 of them, more than the local population.

Villa Garnier

Built by the famous architect Charles Garnier, the white silhouette of Villa Garnier confers a touch of elegance to the city. You will be immediately captivated by the beauty of this location. Indeed, the building, as evidence of the overlap between different cultures, is characterised by olive trees, orange trees and date palms that add an eastern character to the park.

“The richness of the varieties present, and the exceptional size of many of them, make the Pallanca Exotic Garden the most complete collection of its kind in the country, and one of the world's leading collections”.

The exotic garden

Bordighera town is home to the exotic garden of Pallanca, with over 10,000 square metres of vegetation in which succulents are the stars, with the largest collection in Europe and one of the largest in the world contained right here.

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