VAL ROYA (Italia)

The scenery along the coastal stretch is very fragmented, with marvelous natural wonders like the high cliffs of Capo Mortola, the gullies of Castel d’Appio and the majestic crags of Roverino. Beyond the large alluvial plain of the Roya is a brief stretch of hills and then the immediate climb up the very steep and ’harsh’ mountain. The area of the coast and the plain is densely populated; the inland area is home to a few fortified mountainside villages and groups of stone buildings scattered along the main historic routes going north from the coast, such as the famous Salt Road. The Italian part of the Val Roya - Bevera basin includes 3 towns: Airole, Olivetta S. Michele and Ventimiglia. In socio-economic terms, the city of Ventimiglia is the hub of the area because it is the direct connection to neighboring France and Monte Carlo, where local inhabitants gravitate for various activities.