Apricale: picturesque alleys, a castle and a lot of sun, a village of other times

Apricale is a Ligurian medieval village in the province of Imperia which has less than 700 inhabitants. The name means 'exposed to the sun', in fact the symbol of the city is the Castle of the Lizard which dominates the town and has this name precisely because the lizards are always in the sun. The castle stands on the main square of Apricale, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, and is a place of cultural and musical events. Next to it stands the church of the Purification of the Virgin Mary. The village is full of winding and picturesque streets, of buildings made of stone, with a timeless charm. It was also the first medieval city to know the enactment of the Statutes that regulated the life of the community. The punishments for dissidents were exemplary and often public. Apricale is also known as the city of artists both for the many artisan shops and for the many modern murals that adorn the city walls depicting scenes of ancient rural life. It also figures as one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, and is often awarded with awards for environmental quality.