Erbazul

If the aromatic herbs on site have whetted your appetite for all things fragrant, you’re in luck: Sanremo (known as the ‘city of flowers’ for its cultivation of carnations and roses) is dotted with beautiful gardens and colourful flowerbeds. Check out the onion domes of the Russian Orthodox Church, or hire a bike to wheel along the palm tree-lined cycle lane skirting the seafront. Largely destroyed by an earthquake in the 1880s (and subsequently abandoned), the hilltop village of Bussana Vecchia (15 minutes’ drive) is now populated by artists who restored the derelict properties (using mostly recycled materials from the original buildings), turning them into workshops. The coastal city of Imperia (35 minutes) is known for Villa Grock, the former home of a famed Swiss clown and entertainer from the early 20th century. Admire the elegant Art Nouveau architecture, wander through the leafy gardens with ponds and fountains, then check out the Clown Museum to learn more about the villa’s eccentric owner.