Discover Cipressa: Art, History and Cycling Routes

Cipressa is a fortified village situated on a hill in the Ligurian hinterland. Narrow carruggi, dead-end alleys, vaulted passageways, ascending paths and carved door lintels recall the village’s medieval past. Those who choose a holiday apartment in Cipressa will find a stay combining historic village scenery, art and active days in the hinterland.

Churches and fortified sites around Cipressa

The Chiesa della Visitazione di Maria Santissima contains numerous side chapels with precious stucco and fresco decoration. The church was built approximately between 1644 and 1654. The parish church of Sant'Antonio Abate in Cipressa was first mentioned in 1153. Santa Maria “de Platea” (“della Piazza del Castello”) is considered the oldest church in the village of Cipressa.

The surrounding villages also deepen the region’s historic character. The Chiesa Fortezza di San Pietro stands on the slope of the hill where the village of Lingueglietta is located. It is a Romanesque religious building that was converted into a defensive structure. In Lingueglietta, you can also see the foundations and ruins of the castle of the Lords of Laigueglia. The Fortezza del Gallinaro lies on a hill outside Cipressa’s historic centre and is associated with the former defence against Saracen raids.

Art park, garden and sightseeing setting

A few kilometres below Cipressa, near Aregai, lies Villa Biener. The estate is a contemporary art park and a museum of migration cultures. Villa Biener houses a permanent multi-ethnic collection of contemporary art. It includes terraces with olive trees, fruit trees and botanical species from the Mediterranean region and beyond. Visits to Villa Biener are available from May to September between 15:00 and 19:00, as well as by appointment.

Cycling tours for different levels of ability

The cycle path in the Valle del San Lorenzo follows the former route of the Genova–Ventimiglia railway line. It is separated from car traffic on the Aurelia and intended for pedestrians and cyclists. From Cipressa, a wide unpaved high-altitude path also leads to the Passo di San Salvatore, making it suitable for mountain biking.

For relaxed road cycling in the hinterland, the roads between Cipressa, Pietrabruna, Boscomare and Lingueglietta can be linked into a loop. When planning a holiday apartment in Cipressa, this makes it possible to accommodate different daily rhythms: historic discoveries, a visit to the art park or a cycling tour through the villages of the hinterland.

The sea and landscape as another point of reference

The wider natural area includes the marine area designated as a SIC. It covers the municipalities of Imperia, San Lorenzo al Mare, Costarainera and Cipressa. Together with the hill paths, Villa Biener’s olive terraces and the fortified village structure, it creates a varied spatial setting for a trip in which culture and activity are closely intertwined.

Further places for your planning

For further comparisons between destinations, you can also discover Ranzo, Ceriana, Carpasio, San Lorenzo Al Mare, Rezzo, Grimaldi Di Ventimiglia and Glori.

To the overarching travel overview: Imperia.