FROM THE ALPS TO THE SEA

EXCURSION ITINERARIES BETWEEN ITALY AND FRANCE BY TRAIN (CUNEO-VENTIMIGLIA-NICE) OR BY CAR ALONG THE ROYA VALLEY AND "COL DE TENDE"

The Roya Valley has always been an important communication route (the antique "Salt Route") between the Piedmont mountains and the Mediterranean Sea ("Mar Ligure"). State Highway 20 allows you to reach Ventimiglia (65 km from Limone) following the picturesque valley from the "Col de Tende" to the sea. One can relive the history of the Roya Valley and discover its nature using Cuneo-Ventimiglia railway because the train stations are the starting-points for all hike excursions. The railroad, opened in 1928, goes throughout France twice; for someone who doesn’t like walks can limit himself by visiting characteristic villages, whether in Italy or in France.

Going throughout the "Col de Tende" (on the French-Italian border) dominated by ancient fortresses and important starting-point of many interesting excursions (trekking, horseback riding, 4WD, mountain-bike) along challenging high-altitude military paths, passing Vievola, which has a 9-hole golf course, one gets to Tende, which preserves the ruins of the ancient castle of the Counts Lascaris, as well as typical narrow streets, vaulted passageways and precious portals. At the beginning of the village, on the right, a few meters from Tende train station, the pre-historic "Musée des Merveilles" with petroglyphs, photographs and items from the "Vallée des Merveilles".

After a few kilometres, St. Dalmas de Tende where by turning left, one can reach La Brigue in 3 km, an ancient medieval hamlet rich in history. Remarkable is St. Martin Church with the adjoining Oratory. Not to be missed is the Sanctuary "Notre Dame de Fontaines", famous for its extraordinary frescoes by Canavesio and by Baleison that cover the walls, that is why the Sanctuary has been named the "Sistine Chapel of the Maritime Alps".

Always in St. Dalmas de Tende, turning right, one can reach the "Vallée des Merveilles", also reachable by cross-country shuttles. The petroglyphs that one find in the valley date back to the bronze age (1800-1500 B.C.). The scenery is beautiful when following thick wood footpaths towards clear alpine lakes (Lac des Merveilles, Lakes of Fontanalba, Black Lake, Green Lake, etc.).

There are countless outings, even guided, for both adults and children in this valley, all to be discovered and enjoyed, provided with shelters, horse, jeep, mountain-bike and paragliding rentals. The hamlets of Casterino (located near the lake of the same name) and Grenile are interesting examples of rural architecture.

Continuing, among canyons, pinewoods and prairies, the descent along the Roya Valley, one gets to Fontan, with a left turn, one can reach the beautiful village of Saorge, perched along a narrow rock spur, ancient Ligurian town and then a Roman colony, considered impregnable in the Middle Ages. Remarkable are the "Saint Sauveur Church" (which has a precious organ), the "Madonna del Poggio" and the "Franciscans Monastery".

A few kilometres after Fontan one reaches Breil, ancient village built around a beautiful little lake provided with water-sports centres (canyoning, kayak, etc.).

Continuing towards the sea, the scenery of the valley changes appearance: from pinewoods to olive trees, while, on Italian territory, along the Roya shore, come into view, typical villages. A junction on the right, one is able to cross the river and get directly (at the tollgate in Ventimiglia) on the A10 highway, reaching this way, in few minutes, Bordighera and then Sanremo. From the tollgate in Ventimiglia, going West instead, after a few kilometres, one can reach the French Riviera (Menton, Monte-Carlo, Nice, etc.).

A stop in Ventimiglia gives you the opportunity to visit the Hanbury Botanical Gardens, located at Mortola and the "Balzi Rossi" (Red Cliffs), which are along the Via Aurelia (an old Roman road), in the direction of France. It is among one of the largest gardens, which offers exceptional environment conditions congenial to acclimatization, wonderfully spread along the coast that reaches down to the sea. It’s named after Sir Thomas Hanbury, who, from 1867, collected 5000 species of plants from five continents. On the lower part of the garden one can still see a part of the Julia Augusta Roman road.

The "Balzi Rossi" (Red Cliffs), situated near the San Ludovico frontier post (Italian-French border), consist of a natural museum with caverns, open in the sheer limestone cliffs above the sea, dating back to the Palaeolithic era. The museum holds tools and utensils carved in stones and the famous "triple burial" of Cro-Magnon remains.