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holiday rental: Casa Canun
Vintimille in French, a city with a long history.
The capital of the Celtic / Ligurian Intimilier became Roman Municipium in 180 BC, Albintimilium; in the Migration Period the name was Vintimilium, one of the oldest early Christian dioceses. XXmiglia, "twenty miles", as you can read sometimes, is more of a folk parody.
Only in the early Middle Ages, the better defensible Roya hill above the estuary became the town center, - today's Old Town. The counts of Ventimiglia held a mighty reign throughout many centuries.
But underneath the "rocca", a city again began to develop, eventually becoming a free community - the classic conflict situation, which was ultimately exploited by Genoa. "Magnifica Comunità" during the long Genoese dominance in the border region between Provence, Piedmont and Empire.
The new districts are again east of the Roya, French influences can be seen, the city almost merges with Bordighera.
The fortifications are now largely destroyed, what is left partly serves as a museum, war-damaged facades testify to other times.
In the course of the European integration, the role of the border town is changing in favor of a close cooperation with Mentone. While the city used to live from commerce, floriculture and the border, the development of its long-neglected touristic potential has now begun - the greenhouses are in diminution.
The brothers Hanbury, accumulating fabulous wealth in the Far East, have left their marks in and around Ventimiglia; among others, the wonders of the exotic gardens in Mortola and the Museum of the Balzi Rossi, one of the most important paleolithic sites.
On the banks of the Roja, there is a rich hinterland; trips along the picturesque roads following the Nervia, Roya and Crosia valleys up to the Col di Tenda, to the still feudal territories of Dolceacqua, Monaco and Seborga, are all worthwhile.
Also well-known is the large weekly market on Fridays in the new town, where not just clothing and food is offered.
back to: Casa Canun
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