Apricale is a small town of 624 inhabitants and is part of the group ranked the most beautiful villages and hamlets of Italy which hold the orange flag of the "Touring Club of Italy". Located in the hinterland of Bordighera, in the Merdanzo valley, tributary of Nervia and 13 kms from the Riviera Ponente coast. Monte Bignone(1,299 metres) can be seen in the background. It is about 52 kms from the chief town (Imperia).
In the village centre, along a narrow medieval street we can find the library, while inside the castle there is the Museum of the history of Apricale which holds documents and historic finds among which the well-known Statues of Apricale dating back to 1267
Regarding the most historic buildings there are:
The parish church of The Purification of the Virgin Mary built around the XX11 century re-worked and extended more than once. In 1760 a restorer changed the style of the building to Baroque . the neoromanic facade was redone in 1935. The church bell-tower was taken from the antique square tower of Lucertola castle on which was put an upside-down bicycle.
This curious and unique installation is no other than a contemporary work of art created in the year 2000 by Sergio Bianco: the force of non-gravity
The chapel of Saint Vincent Ferrer ,dating back to the XV1 century but revised in Baroque style, is located along the country road to Perinaldo about one kilometre from the centre of Apricale. It holds a statue of the saint in a recess of the facade.
Elastic ball or Fist-ball in the square of Apricale represents something more than what is considered a tradition or a sport, I don't think anything similar exists in such an abnormal context; a rubber ball weighing 190 grams, less than 10cm in diametre (at one time made of animal bladder) that pitches fast up to 70/80 metres high, going higher than the roofs and walls of the buildings, , twisting and turning and coming back like a boomerang: the rules are very old and have never been written.
Some itinerary sugestions from enthusiasts:
http://it.wikiloc.com/percorsi/outdoor/italia/liguria/aprical.
Each year there are painting, sculpture and photo exhibitions inside Lucertola Castle. The opposite square, heart of Apricale village becomes a theatre of different local events such as the "festa dell'olio nuovo" (celebrating the olive harvest) or the "festa della primavera" ( celebrating the arrival of spring).Valentine's day in February and the "Sagra della pansarola"(a typical sweet farinaceous dish).
In July the feast in honour of Saint Luigi and also the second Sunday of September.
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