Get married in one of the prettiest villages in Italy, organizing your wedding in a castle in Apricale. Here you will experience the most wonderful day imaginable – just like in a fairytale.
Its advantageous position provides the origin of the name Apricale – “apricus” means “sunny”. But the main feature of this village is its series of old stone houses that wind in a continuous cascade along the stretch of a steep slope that is dominated by the Castle of the Lizard.
There is a mysterious lizard that gives the name to the Castle of Apricale, a locality on the border of France that has been classified amongst the loveliest towns in Italy. This metal lizard was found in the Stone Circle at Pian dei Re, where according to legend the King of the Celts stopped to rest.
There are fantastic stories that resonate within the walls of this completely restored Castle, such as that of the “trumpeter of Apricale”, a soldier who fought under General Custer, and was the only survivor of the massacre at Little Big Horn. The castle was also used as a scenic backdrop by the brilliant stage designer and painter Emanuele Luzzati.
You can hear these captivating stories, and at the same time taste delicious specialities served on the roof garden, in the party room or in the cellars of the castle. And here they talk of mysterious ghosts at night … but that’s another story!
The “City of Palms”, small and pictoresque location on the coast, not far from Sanremo, during the second half of the 19th century it has been discovered as a tourist location from the English, whose presence has left important historical and cultural traces. The rare beauty of its landscape and its sweet climate made it be loved and frequented by characters such as the Impressionist painter Monet, which painted its best spots, and the Italian queen Magherita.
The Anglican Church with its surrounding garden is placed on a quiet street, among villas and gardens. Built at the end of the 19th Century for the religious needs of the many English guests of Bordighera, it was home of a stable minister, a place for prayers but also mundanity, not only a church but also a meeting point, since the chaplain used to offer tea each Thursday in the parsonage. Now closed to worship services, the Anglican Church has been bought by the Town Hall that has restored it and has been using it as a multi-functional cultural center for concerts, exhibits, conferences, weddings and events.
It’s a village with an ancient history, placed at the end of the Nervia Valley, not far from the French Border, it is divided into two parts, bonded through a medieval bridge. The most ancient one, made of tall and tight houses faced on the windy roads uphill, is placed around the base of the monumental castle of the Doria family. The spectacular scene consisting in the castle and the bridge has been portrayed by Monet during his stay in the Riviera. The more leveled and open side of the village hosts handcrafting shops, typical restaurants and scented cellars where it is possible to sample the Rossese, typical local red wine.
The Doria Castle of Dolceacqua was built during the 15th Century and for a long time it has been connected with the events of the ancient Doria family. Recently restored, it is property of the Town Hall of Dolceacqua, which has allowed some halls, rooms and an empty internal area to be available for events and celebrations. At the top there’s the Crystal room, modernly equipped for congresses and reviews.