Soldano

This small municipality in the Crosia Valley stands on the road to Perinaldo. For many centuries dependent on Ventimiglia, it is nevertheless historically linked with nearby Bordighera: Soldano is in fact one of the towns that went to form the "Community of the eight locations" in 1686. The surrounding hillsides, which are dominated by fir trees and Mediterranean maquis, are given over to cultivation of olives and grapes (this is territory that produces Rossese superior wine, to which a local festival is dedicated on 16 July); flowers are also cultivated here (roses, mimosa and broom).

In the eighteenth century, the present-day parish church of San Giovanni Battista replaced the ancient church dedicated to the same saint, which was abandoned and later transformed into accommodation. Its interior preserves a fine poliptych showing Saint John the Baptist in the centre panel with Saint John the Evangelist and Saint Anthony at the sides; above these are a central panel showing the Virgin with Child with Saint Catherine and Saint Lucia at the sides. There is uncertainty about the artist: some attribute it to Andrea Della Cella, while others believe it is by Francesco Brea. The church of San Giovanni Evangelista, which lies outside the walls, was built as an oratory and underwent extensions in the eighteenth century. The church of San Mauro probably dates back to the fifteenth century. The church of the Madonna del Carmelo in the district of Oria is well worth visiting.

If you leave the town by the Fularvin road, you will come to Dolcedo and San Biagio della Cima. There are some pleasant and easy excursions to be made to the low peaks of Monte Rebuffao and Monte Bellavista. Among the local sports facilities are tennis courts and football, basketball and volleyball pitches.