THE VILLAGE
The slideshow on the right shows typical photos of the village of Apricale, which, against very considerable competition, has been voted into the top ten prettiest villages in Italy. Not surprising, really. It's like a medieval film set, only it's authentic. (To pause the slideshow on a parrticular photo, just click inside the photo.)
The village is situated at the end of a horseshoe ridge running from the summit of Monte Calvaira. The land falls away steeply in the north, west and south directions, with tributaries to the River Nervia in the valleys to the north and south. There are pleasant walks of all levels of exertion in and around both of these river valleys.
Life centres around the town square,adjacent to the ruined castle, and the only area of level ground in the town and also around the multitude of churches. Festivals, concerts and special events are held in the square and two cafes have tables there.
The medieval streets are not wide enough to allow vehicle access, so cars must be left in car parks on the outskirts. Essential services (deliveries to the shop close to the town square and rubbish collection) are made possible by means of two tiny 3-wheeled tractors and very skilled drivers, but they don't carry passengers.
The structure and layout of the town has changed very little in the last half millenium and, exploring the narrow alleyways, one really does feel that Romeo and Juliet might stroll round the corner at any minute.
Town maps usually work well because towns are normally built on level or undulating ground, so that the map view from above can flatten things out without too much distortion. That is impossible for Apricale, built on the top of a ridge, with buildings and streets on several levels and some streets running beneath others. So you won't find a street map as useful as you might imagine. But here is a street map of Apricale, anyway.
