Apricale

Apricale
Country	Italy
region	Liguria
province	Imperia (IM)
Coordinates	43 ° 53 ' N , 7 ° 40' E Coordinates: 43 ° 53 '0 " N , 7 ° 40' 0" E
height	291 m slm
surface	19 km²
Residents	622 (Dec. 31, 2019)
Population density	33 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	18035
prefix	0184
ISTAT number	008002
Popular name	Apricalesi
Website	http://www.apricale.org/it/index.asp
	; View of Apricale

Apricale is an Italian municipality with 622 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) in the province of Imperia in Liguria and is a member of the association I borghi più belli d'Italia (The Most Beautiful Places in Italy).

Apricale is located about 15 km north of Ventimiglia in the Merdanzo Valley, a side valley of the Nervia . The name of the place is derived from the Latin apricus (sunny). Apricale belongs to the Association of Municipalities Mountain Community Intemelia . In the area and the only noteworthy is DOC - Red Wine Liguria grown - the Rossese di Dolceacqua .

history

Apricale was founded in the 9th century and received the oldest autonomous constitution in Liguria in 1267, which came into being after the rule of the Counts of Ventimiglia and before the rule of the Doria family (from 1276).

Attractions

The narrow, steep streets of the village are characterized by covered passages and stone arcades , which are called "carugi" in the local Ligurian dialect . The wall paintings are works by various artists on the occasion of the "Giornata dell'Affresco" , an event for fresco painting.

Around the central square, Piazza Vittorio Emanuelle II , there is the San Bartolomeo oratory with a baroque façade surmounted by a bell tower, the parish church Purificazione di Maria Vergine and the feudal castle (now called Castello della Lucertola ) in an elevated position . The church tower has been prominently marked by a bicycle attached to the roof since 2000.