Taggia

A municipality located in the province of Imperia, it is one of the oldest towns on this portion of the Riviera. In fact, it seems that the first nucleus has pre-Roman origins. Its territory is very extensive, stretching along the lower valley of the Argentina torrent as far as the sea, and is characterised in the hills by olive and citrus groves and expanses of flowers, and in the more mountainous area by vast forests. The historic centre is located in the hinterland of the Argentina Valley, while the hamlet of Arma di Taggia is a beautiful seaside resort. The village became famous in Great Britain around the end of the 19th century, when the writer Giovanni Ruffini wrote the novel 'Il Dottor Antonio', set in nearby Bordighera, which tells the story of a young English noblewoman. The writer's family was originally from Taggia and we still find traces of his presence here today: the house in Via Soleri, Villa Curlo, his mother's house, the Monumento agli Eroi Taggiaschi and the Funeral Monument dedicated to the Ruffini family, numerous plaques and dedications of streets and public buildings. Every year, the 'Festa dei Furgari' is held in Taggia, which has very ancient origins. On the second Saturday in February, huge bonfires are prepared by the 16 districts and lit in the evening, in memory of the great bonfire lit by Saint Benedict in 1626 against Saracen attacks. In the afternoon, the 'furgari', bamboo canes filled with gunpowder, are fired in a fascinating firework display.