Badalucco

This is a typical town in the Argentina Valley with rough stone houses nestled among the mountains. Rows of houses follow the winding course of the River Argentina, while others are huddled between the road and the rock face. Higher up is the steeper part of the town, which was a challenge to build due to the ruggedness of the terrain. The name of the town (in Latin: "bella duco") recalls the fighting spirit of the Ligurians, who engaged the Romans in 181 BC near the Campus Martius at the entrance to the town in a battle that was decisive for control of the territory.

The fortified town, which is today embellished by works of art lodged in the lower part of the wall, still shows some traces of the ancient gates, which were later incorporated into the buildings: these are the gates of San Rocco, Poggetto, Beo, Castello and Santa Lucia, which stands on the bridge of the same name (1555). Badalucco was at the junction of the roads leading out of the lower valley area and up along the ridges: the two late mediaeval humpback bridges at the entrance and exit to the town are a reminder of its ancient function as a crossroads. The church of San Nicolò just outside the town was built in the seventeenth century on the ruins of the old castle. Opposite this stands Palazzo Boeri, which has a beautiful loggia and was built in the same period.

The work on restoring and embellishing the town began with the opening of an open-air art gallery comprising murals and wood and ceramic works (which serve to hide what cannot be restored) along the winding streets and was followed up by restoration and imaginative decoration of the many old fountains. In September, Badalucco is full of good food enthusiasts, who come here to taste the famous speciality of stockfish "alla baucogna" during the festival of the same name.