Holiday apartment in Dolceacqua – Ponte Vecchio, wine and cycling tours

Dolceacqua between Ponte Vecchio and the Castello

Dolceacqua is a destination for days that combine local history, regional specialities and physical activity: Ponte Vecchio spans the Torrente Nervia, the Castello dei Doria shapes the cultural offering, and a variety of experiences lie between art, architecture, wine and cycling tours. When choosing a holiday apartment in Dolceacqua, you can therefore focus on culture, culinary experiences or active days.

Discover art, history and special places

The “G. Morscio” Pinacoteca is located in the Palazzo Luigina Garoscio, Via Doria 10, 18035 Dolceacqua. It was established in 1970 following the donation of a selection of Giovanni Morscio’s own paintings, as well as a significant part of his personal collection of paintings and watercolours by contemporary French and Italian figurative artists. The parish church of Sant’Antonio Abate is also one of the town’s notable buildings: it was completely rebuilt in 1471.

The Castello dei Doria features multimedia rooms and exhibitions on the history, area and traditions of Dolceacqua and hosts cultural and musical events as well as exhibitions. The Visionarium 3D offers a different perspective with three-dimensional and Omnimax projections; it specialises in high-quality nature documentaries. La Téra is a walking route through the old part of town that leads to the Castello dei Doria via the typical, labyrinthine carugi.

Ponte Vecchio connects the two settlement centres of Dolceacqua across the Torrente Nervia with an elegant single arch spanning 33 metres. Claude Monet painted a view of Ponte Vecchio in 1884. A panoramic path at the Castello dei Doria offers views across the entire valley – from the sea, across the Rossese vineyards and olive groves, to the Montagne Azzurre.

Holiday apartment in Dolceacqua for culture, wine and cycling days

Dolceacqua also has its own culinary specialities. Rossese di Dolceacqua was the first Ligurian wine to receive DOC recognition, in 1972. Michetta is Dolceacqua’s traditional sweet pastry. At the foot of the Castello dei Doria, the Enoteca Regionale della Liguria operates a location in Dolceacqua offering wine tastings for individuals and groups. At Azienda Agricola Terre Bianche in Dolceacqua, cellar tours and wine tastings are available by prior arrangement.

For active days, the town offers two different cycling options. The Anello dei Castelli (Val Nervia) is an easy 22-kilometre cycling route that begins at the entrance to Dolceacqua’s medieval town centre and returns there. In addition, a cycle path runs from Dolceacqua along the left bank of the Torrente Nervia to the Ventimiglia seafront in less than 20 minutes. Combining a circular route with a connection to a destination helps you take your preferred daily itinerary into account when choosing your holiday apartment.

The Festa della Michetta takes place on the day after Ferragosto and is characterised by singing and dancing by young people in the streets of Dolceacqua.

Discover more places in the same region here: Riva Ligure, Santo Stefano Al Mare, Ceriana, San Lazzaro Reale, Collabassa, San Biagio Della Cima, Borgomaro, Monade Santa Lucia.

To the overview of the wider travel region: Imperia.