Bajardo is the highest municipality in the province of Imperia: the village stands at about 910 metres above sea level, on a ridge that looks out over the sea of the Riviera dei Fiori on one side and the Ligurian Alps on the other. All around are chestnut woods, mountain olive groves and lavender fields.
From Bordighera it takes about 50 minutes by car, on hill roads.
The history of Bajardo
The site was inhabited long before the Romans, and the remains of an ancient place of worship have come to light in the upper part of the village. In the Middle Ages the castle and the church of San Nicolò were built here.
The earthquake of 1887
On 23 February 1887, Ash Wednesday, a violent earthquake struck western Liguria. In Bajardo most of the inhabitants were gathered in San Nicolò for the service: the church roof collapsed and more than two hundred people died, the highest death toll in the whole province. The village was partly rebuilt and in 1893 the new parish church was built.
What to see
The ruins of San Nicolò
In the upper part of the village the walls of the old church still stand, roofless and open to the sky. The collapse brought older remains to light, including Roman-era columns and stelae. It is the most evocative place in Bajardo, and from here the view sweeps from the sea to the mountains.
The new church of San Nicolò
Built after the earthquake in Neo-Romanesque style, it holds a 15th-century polyptych.
The village
The stone caruggi (narrow alleys), the oratory of San Salvatore and the church of San Rocco, next to which there is a small municipal art gallery.
The Barca festival
At Pentecost Bajardo celebrates “Ra Barca”, a festival of very ancient, non-religious origin, unique in western Liguria. The men of the village cut down a large pine in the woods, drag it into the village and raise it by sheer strength in front of the church, like the mainmast of a ship, while the girls in costume sing old songs of love and longing. The festival recalls a medieval legend of love and death.
What to taste
In Bajardo olive trees grow up to about 750 metres: the extra virgin olive oil produced here is a rare mountain oil. Lavender essence is also made from the fields around the village.
Tips for your visit
- How long you need: a couple of hours; a whole day if you walk the trails in the surrounding area.
- Getting there: about 29 km by car from Bordighera, some fifty minutes.
- Climate: at 900 metres it is noticeably cooler than on the coast.
- For walkers: around the village there is a network of about 80 km of trails, through chestnut woods and along ridges.
- Combine it with: Monte Bignone, the panoramic summit above Sanremo.
Frequently asked questions
How high is Bajardo?
About 910 metres: it is the highest municipality in the province of Imperia.
What happened to the church of San Nicolò?
Its roof collapsed in the earthquake of 23 February 1887, during the Ash Wednesday service, killing more than two hundred people. Today its ruins remain, open to the sky.
What is the Barca festival?
An ancient festival held at Pentecost: a large pine is raised in front of the church like a ship’s mast, to the sound of traditional songs.
How far is Bajardo from Bordighera?
About 29 km, some fifty minutes by car.
