Villa degli Ulivi

Notable monuments

by Tolik

From the artistically notable monuments, there are the Roman ruins, the church of Saint Michael, from the 10th century, and the Vergine Assunta's cathedral from the 12th century. Already the center of the Liguri Intermelii with the name of Albium Intermelium, then called Albintimilium and, in medieval times, Venttimiglia, was the seat of the committee and residence for the counts of Ventimiglia. Successively was erected the free commune, but then fell under the dominion of the Genovesi.

Hanbury Botanic Gardens

by Tolik

Among the numerous Italian and foreign gardens, which may be visited today, the Hanbury Botanic Gardens occupy quite a special place. The gardens that are stretched by the promontory of the Mortola between few steps from Latte, fraction of Ventimiglia. The Hanbury Botanic Gardens were created in 1867 when Sir Thomas Hanbury, holidaying on the Côte d’Azur, was struck by the beauty of Cape Mortola, near Ventimiglia, and began to purchase, piece by piece, part of the land which later amounted to eighteen hectares. A pastureland zone was involved, bounded on three sides, by mountains, which protected it from the wind, and to the southeast, washed by a flawless sea.
Thanks to the particular geographical position and the consequent microclimate, here can cohabit quietly stains of Mediterranean vegetation together with the more disparate exotic kinds. Visitors may not expect to find a garden rich with borders and regularly set flowers-beds and not even well-kept lawns: involved, rather, is an ensemble of plants living freely, which bloom, fruits and produce fertile seeds, thus completing the biological cycle they have in nature. Into the gardens, splendidly preserved by the institute of Botany of the university in Genoa, it’s possible to spend a whole afternoon to the search of botanical curiosity but also in her contemplation of an unforgettable landscape. The gardens (extended on an area from the mountains to the sea) contain about 5.000 different types of plants from the five continents. In the lower part of the gardens it is still possible to see a part of the Roman via Julia Augusta.

VENTIMIGLIA

by vibi68

After the Roman conquest a square city was erected with fortified walls surrounding it, right at the delta of the Nervia torrent: Ventimiglia. The city underwent a few warlike conflicts when Ceasar and Pompeo fought for the domination of Rome, but still remains one of the least affected cities in northern Italy. Ceasar, after a voyage in Provence to support his disciples, was invited to Ventimiglia and elected residence in the rich mansion of the assasinated Domizio. At that time, Ceasar's disciples rose however, wanting vengence upon the ennemy and took over the few men being retained in Ventimiglia: Rome's faithful. The civil conflict ended with Ceasar's victory of course; the city then found peace and got a Roman town hall by obtaining full Roman citizenship, which helped the start of a long and great expansion. With the integration of Ligurians and Romans and especially with the prosperous reign of Augusto, monumentaly symbolized in a closeby French city La Turbie, the city entered a great and peaceful period of constant evolution. Villas, communitary housings, aqueducts and fountains, skeptic tanks, theatres and thermal structures for the public baths of which remain splendid mosaics were built. The new Roman city, contrary to the districts of the old Ligurian center which extended upwards from the collar of Sgarba, had been consciously designed with the rectilinear and orthogonal techniques of the Roman engineers always inspired by the rationalization of spaces; the very modern design of the urban centre extended around two main roads which were cut at right angles. The mercantile rich bourgeois people of the city, exploiting then the trade with Gallie and Spagne, enjoyed an interesting quality of life, testified nowadays by the invaluable archaeological finds of precious objets, partly kept in the museum of Ventimiglia. Ventimiglia almost always followed the destinies of Genova, they had very hard wars on the territories, periods of fortune and difficulties in common and became autonomous communities after the "Liguria Revolution" of 1797. After the construction of roads, the railway and its great international stations, traffic was intensified which increased the power of the city's frontier role. One can concede with the archaeological investigations to a glorious history of this center, for expressions of its tradition, a culture defended here with excellent results, with the spectacular and splendid flower battles, are now historical events including the "carosello": carriages covered in flowers which are special testimonies of local artists, reminicent of the great flower culture's melancholic chronicle, especially in Ventimiglia's area.

Today, Ventimiglia is a very relaxed city of 26 855 inhabitants. It is mostly known for Forte Annunziata, "Girolamo Rossi" museum, which is home to archeological objects found in Roman Albitimillium landsite: glass, tomb stones dating from the 1st to the 7th century and sculptures from the imperial period. The olf communal theater has nowadays become the Aprosiana civic Library, the oldest in Liguria founded in 1649 by the monk Aprosius, it holds very rare ancient manuscripts. It is thanks to Sir Thomas Hanbury that in 1867 Mortola's mount became an exotic plant park, with specimens coming from every country in the world: the villa Hanbury gardens are known worldwide and represent the largest and most important exotic plant garden of Italy. Maybe even more famous are the Balzi Rossi caves in which were found 240 000 years old artefacts, now exposed in the museum. Forte San Paolo, Appio's Castel, the Canarda door: pierced in a tower dating from the 12th century and the rural burg of Torri are all sites that can be reached through magnificent walks starting from the city. For lovers of historical stones, narrow and dark lanes, Ventimiglia Alta's old town is really a must see... The historical manifestations are numerous: the "flower battle", in which participants organise theme floats while bystanders throw flowers at spectators; the medieval processions are accompanied by drum players, flag jugglers and many other saltimbancos. The Ludum Balistre, an crossbow tournament tournoi de tir à l'arbalète, the San Secondo regatta and the "Castagnole" fiesta are events not to be missed to feel the city's liveliness. Also do not miss tasting the city's gastonomic specialities such as whiting stuffed tortellis with pesto sauce accompanied by a bottle of Rossese di Latte, but if youdon't like fish... the simple taste of thepesto sauce of the region will send you to heaven! ...then again so will any corner restaurant's simplest pizza.