Casa del Maiale

At the foot of the maritime Alps, overlooking the Val Roia, lies a small, typical Ligurian village: Verrandi. It is part of the municipality of Ventimiglia. Despite its location at an altitude of 200 meters, it is only a few kilometers from the coast and benefits from a particularly pleasant Mediterranean microclimate.

Verrandi was founded in the 17th century. The original inhabitants lived mainly from agriculture and grew olives and grapes for oil and wine. There is still an old oil mill (frantoio) where the olives were pressed and the village still has a water source (sorgente). People lived together in the borgo: a tangle of houses against the mountain, so characteristic of the villages in Liguria.

There are now no more than forty permanent residents and apart from an agriturismo with winery, there are no facilities. Many people come in the summer to spend their holidays there. Out of season it is an oasis of peace and Verrandi is the ideal place to relax. Due to its location, the village is an ideal base for trips to seaside resorts such as San Remo, the famous Friday market of Ventimiglia or the historic Dolceacqua. The French border is just a stone's throw away, so a visit to Provence and Côte d'Azur or the fashionable Monte Carlo is also worthwhile.
Hikers can indulge themselves: a beautiful hiking area is the French part of the Val Roia, including the Valée des Merveilles. The Alta Via dei Monti Liguri starts practically above the village! Experienced motorcyclists should definitely explore the rugged, mountainous hinterland. The highest public road in Europe is at 2800 meters on Col de la Bonette and the Col de Turini (rallye of Monte Carlo) must of course also have been driven.

The real sports enthusiasts can ski in winter an hour's drive from the coast (Limone Piedmont) or cycle/mountain bike in the mountains (the riders of the Tour and Giro train in this area). Ventimiglia is connected to the Pista Ciclabile: a cycle path along the coast, partly on the old train track, which runs to Imperia. In summer, canyoning or canoeing trips are organized from Breil (France). But of course you can also go swimming in the sea: often until the end of October!

The area has a rich history. Liguria was already inhabited by people in prehistoric times. Remains have been found in the caves of Balzi Rossi, on the border with France. There is also the prehistoric museum. The Romans also passed through Liguria via the Via Aurelia. In Ventimiglia there is still a small amphitheater to visit. The Republic of Liguria became part of the Napoleonic Empire in 1805.

Nature lovers will also get their money's worth: Verrandi itself is surrounded by the greenery of the many olive trees all year round. Even the village is occasionally visited by wild boars and dolphins have been spotted off the coast of Ventimiglia in recent years.
On the coast are the famous botanical gardens of Villa Hanbury.
If you are going to rent Casa del Maiale, we can of course reveal our personal hotspots!

Casa del Maiale came into our possession in May 2018. It is a characteristic "tiny house" with vaulted spaces. It offers guests the experience of staying in a Ligurian borgo and living in this usually quiet village. In the summer it is busier: the village is populated by a mix of Italians, Swiss, Germans and a few Dutch. Over the years, the tradition has arisen to give each house the name of an animal. Casa del Maiale is named after a small mural with a pig in the house.
The house is compact but has 2 bedrooms with a total of 4 sleeping places. Due to the differences in level in the village, the accommodation is not suitable for disabled people. Also, given the location of the village, visitors should have access to their own transport and not be afraid to drive on sometimes steep mountain roads. Nice airport is half an hour's drive from the main road. Transavia offers relatively cheap tickets from Eindhoven and Schiphol and EasyJet and KLM also fly from Schiphol to Nice.

In the expectation that you will like the statues, we hope to welcome you in our Casa del Maiale!

Tip: more pictures at "Additional information".