Imperia between Coast, Mountains and Culture

Imperia opens up a diverse province between coastal landscapes, mountain meadows, forests and historic places. Particularly appealing is the transition from nature trails in the Nervia and Toraggio-Pietravecchia areas to medieval architecture, regional olive oil culture and extensive routes through the hinterland. This allows you to shape your trip according to your interests, combining nature observation, hiking, culture and cycling routes.

Nature between the Coast and the Highlands

On the visitor trail of SIC T. NERVIA, you can see alluvial woodland and a partially flooded reed bed. Another visitor trail leads to a lagoon-like loop at the river mouth where numerous birds gather. The mouth of the Torrente Nervia is the only partially preserved coastal wetland in the Province of Imperia. This creates a clearly defined natural area where river landscapes, reeds and birdwatching come together.

Both Mediterranean and Arctic-alpine plant species occur in SIC M.TORAGGIO – M. PIETRAVECCHIA. The visitor point can be reached from the coast via Val Nervia, Pigna, Castelvittorio, the S.P. 65 di Colla Langan and the S.P. 67. The route runs 20 km north to Pigna, followed by another 6 km on a paved road to Colla Melosa. In SIC M.MONEGA – M.PREARBA, the visitor trail begins at a provincial road and initially passes through mixed forest, followed mainly by beech forest. At an elevation of 1,392 m, the trail opens up to views of the Valle Argentina and the Drego viewpoint.

The higher landscapes also give the province its distinctive character. At Colle Garezzo, a route section at an elevation of 1,700 m features mountain meadows with rocks and scree. In Parco Alpi Liguri, the Toraggio-Pietravecchia mountain group is one of the botanically significant landscape areas; hikers can follow the Sentiero degli Alpini there. The Alta Valle Arroscia in the Imperia area is characterized by broad pastures and extensive woodland. The mountains Monte Ceppo and Carmo di Brocchi, as well as the peaks Monte Fenáira and Monte Carpasina, are also located in the surrounding area of the Provincia di Imperia.

Historic Places and Cultural Impressions

The medieval castle of Cervo houses the Museo Etnografico del Ponente Ligure. Triora preserves a medieval defensive complex with gates, arches, narrow passageways and fortified houses. In Imperia, Villa Grock was opened to the public in 2010. These places range from an ethnographic collection and medieval fortifications to a more recent cultural site in the city.

The Province of Imperia has signposted memorial trails and visitor sites from Grimaldi to Colle di Nava. They are connected with villages in the hinterland, hiking trails, military roads, fortifications and coastal beaches. In the wider regional surroundings of the Provincia di Imperia are the Villa Ormond palace, the Villa Meridiana palace, the Nobelian Museum and the Villa Nobel palace. The cultural spectrum therefore extends beyond individual historic sites into the surrounding region.

Routes for Hiking and Cycling

For cyclists, the Province of Imperia has made around 30 kilometres of unpaved provincial roads available: the SP 2 from San Bernardo to Colle del Garezzo and the SP 76 from Colle del Garezzo to Colle Melosa. This figure should be understood as an approximate total. Another cycling route in the Province of Imperia leads to Monesi di Triora and then to the sea in the Prino district of Imperia. Its route passes through the territories of the municipalities of Mendatica, Montegrosso Pian Latte, Rezzo, Montalto Carpasio, Borgomaro, Prelà, Dolcedo and Imperia.

For planning your trip, you can combine different landscapes: a river mouth and coastal wetland, forest trails at various elevations, mountain meadows at Colle Garezzo, and longer cycling routes between the highlands and the sea. The cultural routes from Grimaldi to Colle di Nava add villages, military roads and fortifications to this selection.

Olive Oil from Taggia

The regional cuisine is also clearly connected with the province. Taggiasca olives come from Taggia in the Province of Imperia and are processed into mildly acidic extra virgin olive oil. This local connection makes Taggia an important name if you would like to get to know the culinary side of the area more closely.

Other places for regional orientation: Pantasina, Perinaldo, Piani Paorelli, Ville San Sebastiano, Borgomaro, Bordighera, Molini Di Triora, Rocchetta Nervina, Bellissimi, Cosio Di Arroscia, Costa D'oneglia, Triora, Riva Ligure, Pairola, Montalto Ligure, Latte, Ospedaletti, Monade Santa Lucia, Termini, Montegrazie, Torre Papone, Pieve Di Teco, Pigna, Lecchiore, Lingueglietta, Riva Faraldi, San Bartolomeo Al Mare, San Bartolomeo Di Caravonica, Deglio Faraldi, Badalucco, Ventimiglia, Villatalla, Poggi, Pompeiana, Pontedassio, Prela Castello, Collabassa, Colle San Bartolomeo, Costa Carnara, Costarainera, Diano Marina, Diano San Pietro, Dolcedo, Praelo, Imperia, Civezza, Pornassio, Fanghetto, Torrazza, Valloria, Santo Stefano Al Mare, Terzorio, Cesio, Diano Evigno, San Lorenzo Al Mare, San Remo, Diano Arentino, Bajardo, Olivetta San Michele, Serreta, Gorleri, San Romolo, Apricale, Moltedo, Dolceacqua, Airole, Camporosso, Borgo Sant'agata, Chiusanico, Soldano, Caravonica, Cervo, Chiusavecchia, Cipressa, Vasia, Diano Castello, Ville San Pietro, Berzi, Trucco, Carpasio, Taggia, Bussana, Poggialto, Borgo D'oneglia, Vallecrosia, Conio, Calvo, Seborga, Mendatica, San Biagio Della Cima, Prela, Castellaro, Ceriana, Grimaldi Di Ventimiglia, Isolabona, Aurigo, Glori, Ranzo, Vallebona, Gazzelli, Tavole, Ciapin, Rezzo, Cartari, Borghetto D'arroscia, Isolalunga, San Lazzaro Reale, Pietrabruna, Borganzo, Vessalico.

For the overarching travel overview: Liguria.