Karin and Philippe suggested a day out, not to Cannes or Monaco, but to a village in Italy that Leashia and I had never heard of before. We guessed it might be something pretty special, and it was. Dolceacqua is about an hour drive from Nice just over the border. The main road there was busy but not unpleasant [well Philippe was driving, I just enjoyed the views]. We knew we were getting close to Italy when the cars started to look a bit weird! We passed by the multi-storey houses of the hillside town of Ventimiglia Alta before arriving at our destination.
Dolceacqua
Dolceacqua is a picture perfect medieval hilltown nestled in the Nervia Valley. The 15th century stone bridge Ponte Vecchio insipired Claude Monet who painted the Chateau and the bridge when he visited in 1884 and you can see it here.
On our arrival we managed to find a place to park but it was clear that, although we had never heard of the place before, it’s clearly no secret. Despite the crowds Dolceacqua was an absolute gem and the fact that it was a warm Sunday and there was an open market added to its draw. We had a mooch around the market and I would have loved to have bought some food to take home but sadly, due to the ongoing restrictions bringing meat and cheese into the UK, I was unable to indulge – gah!
We all headed to a bar for a drinky before a superb lunch at L’osteria Di Caterina which Philippe was keen for us to visit [he knows his stuff!]. The porcini and pasta dishes were incredible!
After eating it was time to explore the maze of narrow streets and passages leading up the hill to the Castle [Chateau]. Once in the passages we left the hustle and bustle of the market behind and it was quiet and the air was cool as we meandered up the hill.
The Chateau, also known as Castello dei Doria, dates back to the 13th century and is in a prime location with lofty views of the surrounding countryside.
Being situated at the top of a hill means it’s not really suited for everyone and you need a good pair of sturdy leggies, but assuming you have it’s worth the uphill walk and the entry fee. There are handy information boards in English dotted around.
Menton [France]
Philippe drove us back to Nice along the coast which took us through Menton, a pretty French border town. It’s about half an hour east of Nice and there are frequent direct trains. It’s known as the ‘pearl of France’ due to its mild climate, fine architecture and beaches. Dusk was approaching so we only had an hour or two here but even in that short time Leashia and I resolved to return and stay for a few days in the near future, perhaps tying it in with another stay in Nice.
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