Villages & CultureFamily Friendly

Pigna

Thermal Village at the Foot of the Little Dolomites

1h 30min

27 km from Airole

Pigna lies at the upper end of Val Nervia at around 280 m altitude, surrounded by the highest peaks of the Ligurian Pre-Alps — Monte Toraggio (1,973 m) and Monte Pietravecchia (2,040 m), locally called the "Little Dolomites". Around 800 inhabitants, Bandiera Arancione since 2009. The old town is a labyrinth of vaulted, dark lanes — locally called "chibi" — spiralling up the hillside. In the church of San Michele Arcangelo stands a monumental polyptych by Giovanni Canavesio (1500, four metres high), showing Saint Michael battling the devil — one of the most significant artworks in western Liguria. The Madonna Assunta spring with sulphurous water (31°C) has been known since the Middle Ages. The spa "Antiche Terme di Pigna" offers indoor pool, sauna and treatments.

Highlights

Canavesio polyptych in San Michele Arcangelo (1500)
Chibi — vaulted medieval lanes
Antiche Terme di Pigna — sulphur spa
Monte Toraggio and Pietravecchia — "Little Dolomites"
Loggia della Piazza Vecchia — 15th-century viewpoint
Starting point for Alta Via hikes

Directions

Car: 27 km, about 48 minutes. From Airole via Ventimiglia and SP64 through Dolceacqua and Isolabona — the faster route without traffic in Ventimiglia. Alternatively, mountain road via Torri. The village is at the end of the road. Bus: about six connections daily from Ventimiglia.

Parking

Car parks at the village entrance, larger car park at the spa.

Practical Information

Terme di Pigna: Via Madonna Assunta, Tel. +39 0184 240010, open April-November. Church of San Michele: daily 8:00-18:30/19:00. Ethnographic Museum "The Land and Memory". Small grocery stores in the village. Restaurant in the thermal bath recommended.

Best Time to Visit

Spring and autumn for hiking. Summer for spa visits, pleasantly cool compared to the coast. Raviolata di San Tiberio in early October. Cherry blossom in spring.

Plan Route