Drive eastwards for a handful of minutes and discover Bussana Vecchia, one of the most scenic villages in the whole region. Bussana Vecchia is a time machine enabling you to travel back in the past: abandoned by its dwellers after the awful 1887 earthquake (whence the construction of a new settlement), it stood silent and forlorn up to the Sixties, when artists from all over the world chose it as their residence.
Stroll around these narrow cosy carruggi sided by ateliers and workshops and live an experience of magic: among the ruins, idle cats preside the village, their glance enigmatic and baffled by the presence of visitors. Do not leave the borgo without the pleasure of a glass of Vermentino accompanied by a slice of sardenaira, the local version of pizza. The call of the sea being intense and strong, head westwards through Ospedaletti, set in a placid bay (take time to admire the view of splendid Villa Sultana), to Bordighera. Visitors of this enchanting resort in the greenery include Charles Dickens, Claude Monet, the British Royal Family (late-19th century), Margherita di Savoia and an endless list of intellectuals, artists and European aristocrats.
Inaugurated by Evita Peron in 1947, Lungomare Argentina provides plenty of reasons for a gourmet stop (restaurants, cafés and gelaterie do abound) on a warm Summer night. Bordighera is the treasure chest of demanding r tourists. The centre, in fact, boasts a vast array of resources: grand Art Nouveau hotels and villas, the track of the Roman road (the Via Julia Augusta) traversing the city centre, and the maze of carruggi of the medieval borgo, a stronghold against Saracen invasions that still preserves the beauty of the church of S. Maria Maddalena. Follow the trail of the Béodo (the ancient aqueduct) and enjoy an immersion into Mediterranean vegetation, the maquis offers hundreds of fragrances and hues. Along the way, dry-stone walls testify the fatigue of man (and the versatility of the Ligurian ingenuity).
Last but not least, the seashore provides numberless leisure opportunities – from lazy sun bathing to dynamic water sports. As for the entroterra, two gems stand out against the green backdrop: Sasso, a touching village perché, and Seborga. The latter grew famous because of a bizarre querelle concerning its – presumed – independence, which has led to the election of a prince, Giorgio I. Surrounded by hills of thick greenery, Seborga presents visitors with its ancient charm – a medley of parvis, perfumes and silences – and its breathtaking panoramas over the sea line and the Côte d’Azur.