Andiamo Places
Apricale and Perinaldo day trip from Sanremo or Bordighera or Ventimiglia
A day trip to Apricale and Perinaldo from Sanremo, Bordighera or Ventimiglia: the morning in the hilltop village of Perinaldo, with the Santuario della Visitazione and its meridian line and the museum on the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini, then Apricale in the afternoon, with the Castello della Lucertola and the lanes and piazza of the village on its hillside. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 day
Apricale and Perinaldo in 1 day
Day 1
Cassini Museum and Observatory
Small museum on Cassini, the Perinaldo-born astronomer of the Paris Observatory, with an observatory open for evening stargazing sessions.
Historic centre of Perinaldo
Hilltop village on a ridge with views to the sea and the Alps, birthplace of the astronomer Giovanni Domenico Cassini.
Santuario della Visitazione (Cassini meridian line)
Church a short walk below Perinaldo with wide views, and a meridian line inside that marks solar noon, in Cassini's honour.
Castello della Lucertola
Medieval castle above Apricale's piazza, now a small museum and exhibition space with a garden and views over the valley.
Historic centre of Apricale (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele)
Medieval village of stone houses stacked on a hillside, with vaulted passages, painted walls and a sloping piazza at its heart.
Watch: Apricale and Perinaldo
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
Getting there
A car is needed: the roads are narrow and winding and buses are few. From Ventimiglia the road climbs the Nervia valley through Camporosso, Dolceacqua and Isolabona to Apricale in about 30-40 minutes; from Bordighera a road climbs the hills to Perinaldo in about half an hour, and Sanremo is a little further. The two villages are a short drive apart over the ridge.
Staying in Sanremo or Bordighera or Ventimiglia? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.
When to go to Apricale and Perinaldo
Spring and autumn are the best seasons, mild and clear, with the hills green or golden and the villages quiet. Summer is warm on the coast but a little cooler up here, and the villages fill on evenings with festivals and events in the piazzas. In winter many places keep short hours.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Apricale and Perinaldo on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Apricale and Perinaldo on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Apricale and Perinaldo on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Apricale and Perinaldo
- Park outside Apricale and Perinaldo and walk in: both villages are steep, stepped lanes where cars cannot go, so wear good shoes.
- The castle museum in Apricale and the Cassini museum in Perinaldo keep short, seasonal hours; check before you drive up.
- The observatory in Perinaldo opens mainly for booked evening sessions; the dark sky up here is good for stargazing.
- Dolceacqua, with its bridge and castle, lies on the road up from Ventimiglia and makes an easy stop on the way.
- Try a glass of Rossese, the red wine of these valleys, in one of the village trattorias.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to hello@andiamoplaces.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Cassini Museum and Observatory: SebSelter, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Castello della Lucertola: Davide Papalini, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Apricale (Piazza Vittorio Emanuele): Alessandro Vecchi, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Historic centre of Perinaldo: Jpchevreau, CC BY-SA 4.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.