Discover Latte: Gardens, Coastal Landscape and History

Latte combines coastal landscapes, garden culture and history within a compact thematic area. In front of the Hanbury Botanical Gardens, the Area di Tutela Marina di Capo Mortola marine protected area safeguards a section of the sea and serves the biological and geological preservation of species, ecosystems and mineral formations. When choosing a holiday apartment in Latte, you can therefore set your preferred focus between nature, historical traces and maritime impressions.

Gardens and Mediterranean Landscape

The Hanbury Botanical Gardens were established by Thomas Hanbury, who created an acclimatization garden with exotic plants in La Mortola in 1867. The grounds grew to 18 hectares and include both planted areas and natural Mediterranean vegetation. The Piacenza-Boccanegra Garden is also located in the Latte district of the municipality of Ventimiglia. Together, these gardens make the connection between cultivated plant life and the Mediterranean landscape a defining theme of your stay.

The Villa Corinna estate also reflects this landscape character: it covers 2 hectares of Mediterranean grounds with olive trees, palms and cypresses. The villa itself is a fortified tower from the 16th century, built to protect the Italian coast of the Riviera dei Fiori from pirates and Saracens. Its preserved supporting structure of a historic drawbridge is particularly distinctive; the U-shaped structure as it appears today extends across the entire side of the central part of the building up to the height of the second floor.

Historical Traces in Latte

In the Piana di Latte, the name “Strada Romana Antica” recalls the route of the ancient Via Iulia Augusta. Near Villa Eva in the Piana di Latte, archaeological investigations revealed the remains of a Roman villa located towards the sea. Another visible detail of the town’s history can be found on the main façade of the parish church of San Bartolomeo in Latte: it is decorated with statues of Saint Bartholomew and Saint Augustine.

Those who see paths and landscapes as part of the town’s history will find two notable connections to the Via Romana. The Sentiero Liguria follows the Via Romana into the Latte district towards Ville di Latte and crosses the railway crossing along the way. A preserved section of the Via Julia Augusta also leads to the entrance of Villa Hanbury. The Area di Tutela Marina di Capo Mortola marine protected area also supports recreational use of the sea in front of the Hanbury Botanical Gardens.

Choosing a Holiday Apartment in Latte Based on Your Interests

For your holiday apartment in Latte, your preferred daily rhythm may be the deciding factor. If you would like to place gardens, exotic plants and natural Mediterranean vegetation at the center of your stay, Villa Hanbury and the Piacenza-Boccanegra Garden offer specific areas to explore. Those interested in history will find several different ways to access the past through Villa Corinna, the Strada Romana Antica, the remains of Roman villas and San Bartolomeo. Anyone wishing to combine nature and the sea can plan the marine protected area as a specific focus of interest. This makes it possible to discover Latte according to your own preferences, among culture, landscape and maritime themes.

More places for your travel planning: Borghetto D'arroscia, Civezza, Vallebona, Villatalla, Diano Evigno, Aurigo, Riva Ligure and San Remo.

For the higher-level travel overview: Imperia.