Hotel La Baia
Via degli Oleandri, 36
Diano Marina (IM) - Liguria
info@hotellabaia.it
+39 0183.404515
Plenty of things, but even nothing at all: indeed, doing nothing has a reason, when you’re on holiday in a place like this. We’re still not used to the beauty of this sea and we could stand there for hours looking and listening to it. …but where is “there”? In the room, in the garden, on the beach… you choose.
Forget the nightmare of moving the car: and Just like Gregory and Audrey, climb aboard the Hotel La Baia’s iconic Vespa and you’ll discover the surroundings riding the very Italian motorcycle that has delighted generations upon generations…
It’s impossible to resist that sea: you at least need to get your feet wet. Since the water is almost always calm, it only takes a moment to decide to go for a dip, and not only in the summer. Liguria is also a territory that smells of olive trees, maritime pines, orange trees and so many flowers, as well as mountains, with peaks that turn white in the winter, right there behind the sea. They’re so close that you could go skiing in the morning and have a swim in the afternoon (some people already are).
We like to pamper you, with romantic moments like a toast while looking out to sea. This is why we organise an exclusive aperitif with oysters and bubbles every week, as well as the unmissable Ligurian aperitif, during which you can taste the best wines of our land, accompanied by appetisers.
A region seemingly too beautiful to be real
Cervo, just a few minutes’ drive from us, is one of those places typically described as “being so beautiful that it seems like a postcard”. So much so as to be a candidate for “The most beautiful village in Italy”. It seems like a miniature village, with narrow streets, ancient walls, vaults, arches and wrought iron signs. And when you least expect it, you find yourself face to face with the great St. John the Baptist bell-tower church, constructed in sumptuous Baroque style. Stretched out over the Diano Marina bay, at sunset the majestic structure is tinged with pink and gold, seemingly a lighthouse guiding sailors.
Approximately an hour and a half’s drive from Diano Marina, along a winding road that climbs up the Argentina Valley, lies Triora, a medieval village that dominates the valley with its 780 m of height. It is known as the village of witches, because here, in 1587, the most important trial in Italian history involving those who were considered the daughters of the Devil took place. The village still preserves the mystery of its past and its connection with witches is indissoluble. If you get the chance, spending Halloween night here, when the village transforms and you find yourself catapulted into its past of light and shadow, is a truly unique experience.
In the Nervia Valley, 10 km from Ventimiglia, wedged between the mountains and the sea, with its thick trees and Mediterranean vegetation, stands Dolceacqua, a splendid medieval Citadel crossed by the river bearing the same name. The ancient village, with its old stone houses, is populated by just over 2,000 inhabitants and the silence is such that you can hear the gurgle of the stream. The Romanesque bridge, built in medieval times and composed of a single stone arch, fascinated the great Monet who depicted it in some of his works.
Finalborgo is considered one of the most beautiful medieval villages in Liguria, but even in Italy. Surrounded by old walls, this tiny gem is crowded with small squares and winding alleys, embellished with colourful flowerpots and small gardens. The village offers enchanting views for exceptional photos, while the many typical restaurants offer excellent Ligurian specialities. Be sure to make your way up to the Castle, along the dirt path: it is a bit of a climb, but well worth it, given the truly impressive scenery.
Only mother nature is capable of creating such a work of art: we are referring to the Toirano caves, sure to charm visitors of all ages thanks to the spectacular limestone formations, Palaeolithic human footprints and the fossilised remains of an enormous bear. The itinerary is quite easy (it takes about an hour) and certain stretches, particularly narrow, make the excursion quite exciting. And then the guides are excellent.
