Apricus Locanda Boutique Hotel
Apricale - Via IV Novembre 5
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In Liguria lies a village of artists and cats with fewer than a thousand inhabitants, serenely nestled in verdant surroundings at 291 metres above sea level and less than 15 km from stunning azure waters. This is Apricale, an enchanting hamlet in the Val Nervia, just 30 km from the French border.
If you enjoy wandering unhurriedly through alleyways and narrow lanes in search of breathtaking vistas and characterful corners, add it to your list of must-see destinations: you’ll find romance and beauty in abundance at Apricale.
Its enviable position ensures this charming village, with its perfectly preserved medieval appearance, is forever kissed by sunshine, as its name suggests (Apricus means “exposed to the sun”). The splendid natural backdrop is formed by the verdant peaks of the Maritime Alps.
Awarded the Orange Flag by the Italian Touring Club, the historic centre is a photogenic and orderly cluster of stone houses, small churches, caruggi, rooftops, pointed archways, arches, wash houses and other buildings and decorative features that evoke a bygone era.
Welcoming and vibrant, it’s a village worth visiting and experiencing, thanks to an extensive annual calendar of exhibitions, cultural events and festive celebrations, along with delicious local gastronomic specialities worth sampling. For those with a sweet tooth, the must-try at Apricale is pansarola, a traditional treat similar to fritters meant to be dipped in hot zabaglione.
If you’re not easily unsettled, during your visit to Apricale’s historic buildings, ask locals to share the village ghost stories – tales of a brutal executioner and an ill-fated countess.
Perched atop a hillside with stone houses and historic buildings arranged across multiple levels, connected by steep lanes that branch out in a radial pattern, almost as if embracing the village, Apricale is a true delight.
The main attractions are all concentrated in the historic centre and can be explored comfortably in half a day. However, we recommend staying longer to experience the timeless atmosphere of this romantic hamlet.
The Torracca is Apricale’s main square: the heart from which the winding lanes radiate outwards, snaking along the hillside where the village sits. The beating heart of town life, it’s perfect both as a starting point for exploring the village and as your final destination.
Two buildings that symbolise Apricale overlook the square: the Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary and the Lizard Castle.
Apricale’s most famous church is an unusual blend of past and future. It’s exceptionally rare for a historic religious building to become the venue for contemporary art installations, yet the Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary in Apricale is precisely that.
The building was constructed in medieval times and renovated several times over the centuries; the current entrance dates from the eighteenth century. The original structure is Gothic in style, with many decorative elements added in later periods drawing from Baroque architecture, whilst the pink and grey stone façade is Neoromanesque.
Particularly striking are the stained-glass windows on the façade, depicting Saint Louis and Saint Agnes, and the mosaic rose window above the main door, representing the purification of the Virgin Mary and her presentation at the temple. Inside, the church features more recent frescoes painted in the early twentieth century by Leonida Martini.
Despite these artistic marvels of the past, what lingers in visitors’ memories is the bicycle fixed to the roof of the church’s bell tower. This is an artwork titled “The Power of Non-gravity” created by Sergio Bianco in 2000.
The bell tower with bicycle of the Church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary is an ancient square tower that originally formed part of the second most photographed building in Apricale: the Lizard Castle. The origin of its name is uncertain, but the most fascinating theory suggests it was named after a lizard basking in the sun, given the castle’s position resembles a sunbathing lizard.
It’s a defensive fortress perched on a rocky outcrop in the centre of Apricale, erected in the tenth century by the Counts of Ventimiglia, the feudal lords of the area at that time, and later became the property of the Doria, lords of Genoa.
Originally, Lizard Castle consisted of just two towers (one is now the bell tower, the other was not preserved), but it was later expanded to enhance its security. The affluent Cassini family transformed it into a stately residence and embellished it with fine furnishings and frescoes; they were also responsible for the hanging garden overlooking the main square.
Currently, the historic building is municipal property and serves as a museum venue and a location for cultural events and exhibitions.
Lizard Castle houses the Apricale History Museum, a small local museum retracing the village’s history and traditions; on display you’ll find archaeological artefacts, historical photographs and documents, mementoes donated by local families.
The visiting route takes you through the castle’s finest rooms: you can see the Tower Countess’s Room of Cristina Bellomo, the Statutes Room, the Risorgimento room, the upper hall and the underground chambers.
From the castle, you can enjoy panoramic views across the village.
Still little visited, the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Apricale is a place worth (re)discovering: this small architectural gem at the foot of the village houses a noteworthy cycle of paintings.
Apricale has earned the title “Village of Artists” for two reasons: the number of interesting exhibitions organised in the village and the murals painted on the facades of buildings.
There are roughly fifty of them, created by Italian and international artists, almost all in naïve style and depicting people engaged in everyday activities.
Thanks to these delicate, and in some cases moving, images on the village’s house walls, Apricale’s centre has become an open-air museum capable of enchanting all its visitors.
An admirer of art, Apricale also reveres literature: a large book with steel pages in a town square pays homage to the written word. Apricale’s Monument to the Book is the work of artists Enzo Pazzagli and Claudio Nobbio.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Apricale is located just a few kilometres from other charming inland hamlets: it’s possible to visit more than one in a single day trip, although to fully appreciate the beauty of these places it’s better to explore them without rushing.
Don’t miss the village of Dolceacqua, famous for the Doria Castle (which shares similar characteristics with Apricale’s castle) and Perinaldo, home to the picturesque Church of the Visitation and an interesting astronomical observatory.
The coast with its sunny beaches, upmarket attractions and relaxing seafront strolls is less than 20 km away: if you fancy a seaside holiday but prefer the charm of hamlets to the bustle of beach resorts, Apricale could be the ideal destination for you.
Surrounded by greenery, Apricale is an excellent base for walks and mountain trekking. Those with limited time who aren’t keen on strenuous outdoor pursuits can follow ancient mule tracks that, until the Second World War, were the only connections to many neighbouring villages.
A recommended short route runs from the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli to an old oil mill in the Mandancio valley: you can reach it on foot in just 15 minutes.
Other points of interest near Apricale include the Gouta in Frasce Forest and the prehistoric mound of Pian del Re: in these cases, however, you’ll need to drive to the start of the trail (almost 20 km in the first case, just over 5 km in the second).
Spending at least one night in Apricale is a magical experience. The village’s accommodation options include delightful boutique hotels, distributed hotels, bed & breakfasts and guesthouses created from beautifully restored and tastefully furnished historic properties.
Nearly all are family-run establishments where you’ll be warmly welcomed by locals who can provide all the useful information to make your stay unforgettable; the finest rooms offer stunning panoramic views across the valley or mountains.
The most luxurious accommodations blend the charm of historic residences with the comfort and environmental sustainability of ecological building practices.
Staying in Apricale’s centre is the recommended choice for those seeking a romantic break or wanting to avoid needing the car once you’ve arrived. However, if you love nature and want to spend one or two nights surrounded by greenery, you can book one of the excellent farm stays in the surrounding area.
If you’re travelling by car, you’ll have no difficulty reaching Apricale: take the A10 motorway Genoa-Ventimiglia, exit at the Bordighera tollbooth and from there continue inland following signs for the village.
Getting to Apricale by public transport is slightly more complicated but certainly possible. The best option is to take a train to Ventimiglia or Bordighera and continue by bus from there. Plan your journey carefully by checking official bus timetables before you depart.
The nearest airport is the French one in Nice: it’s just 50 km from Apricale and served by budget flights to Italy. However, it might be more economical to book a flight to Genoa and travel from there by hire car or train.
When comparing flight deals, consider not only the ticket price but also what you’ll spend on car hire or public transport.
What's the weather at Apricale? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Apricale for the next few days.
Apricale is a comune located inland in western Liguria, not far from important coastal resorts: Ventimiglia is 15 km away, Bordighera 18 km away.
Administratively, it falls within the Province of Imperia. It lies around 70 km from the provincial capital and 180 km from Genoa.
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