Vallecrosia

Vallecrosia is 14 km east of Airole, around 7,000 inhabitants. The town is split into two very different parts: the modern seaside resort with almost a kilometre of mainly free beaches, and the medieval borgo of Vallecrosia Alta, about three kilometres inland on a hilltop.

The borgo is a well-preserved example of Ligurian village architecture. Narrow caruggi lead past stone houses, small squares and archways. A special feature are the "botteghe immaginarie" — house doors painted with trompe-l'œil murals depicting imaginary shops.

In the Parco delle Sette Note stands the Museo della Canzone e della Riproduzione Sonora: a 1910 steam locomotive "Cirilla" and two 1927 Centoporte carriages house a collection on the history of Italian music — instruments, gramophones, music boxes, records. The Romanesque church of San Rocco (c. 10th century) was built on the remains of a Roman temple to Apollo; an ancient inscription dedicated to Apollo is preserved inside.