Soggiorna
A medieval village in the hinterland of Sanremo
Taggia is located in the hinterland of the Riviera dei Fiori, just a few kilometers from Sanremo, at the confluence of the Argentina stream. The historic center has preserved its medieval layout, with porticoed alleys (the caruggi), tower houses, and noble palaces in a village that was for a long time an important commercial and religious center of the area.
The bridge and the convent
The symbol of Taggia is the long humpbacked bridge over the Argentina stream, of medieval origin, with its uneven arches making it one of the most photographed historical bridges in Liguria. Just outside the center stands the Convent of San Domenico, founded in the 15th century, which houses an important cycle of Ligurian Renaissance paintings and a 15th-century cloister.
The land of the Taggiasca olive
Taggia gives its name to the Taggiasca olive, cultivated on these terraced slopes and the basis of the DOP Riviera Ligure extra virgin olive oil: the olive terraces surrounding the village are part of the historical agricultural landscape of the Ligurian hinterland, still in production today.
The coastal fraction of Arma di Taggia, by the sea, offers beaches and a promenade, complementing the historic village in the hinterland.
How to get there
Taggia is connected by regional buses to Sanremo and Arma di Taggia; however, the car remains the most practical means to reach the village from the hinterland, as the nearest train station is in Arma di Taggia on the coast.
Before you go
How long you need. The old centre can be walked in a couple of hours; if you add the convent of San Domenico and a stop at Arma di Taggia by the sea, count on half a day.
When to go. Spring and early autumn are the easiest times: the village lies inland, in summer the heat is noticeable and the nearby coast is busier. The Taggiasca olive harvest falls in the cold months, between autumn and winter.
Accessibility. The centre has a medieval layout, with arcaded alleys, steps and stone paving: it is not a route suited to pushchairs or to anyone with limited mobility. The bridge over the Argentina stream, on the other hand, can be viewed comfortably from the valley floor.
If it rains. The village loses a great deal in the rain and the stone of the alleys becomes slippery: in that case it is better to postpone the visit, or fall back on the coast at Arma di Taggia.
To check before you leave: opening times and days of the convent of San Domenico and of the churches in the centre, which are not always open to visitors; bus times from Sanremo and Arma di Taggia, especially in the evening; where to leave the car, asking your accommodation if you are staying in the area.