The Principality village above Bordighera: Piazza San Martino, Palazzo dei Monaci, sentry boxes, mimosa and views over the Côte d'Azur.
Welcome to Seborga
Seborga is a small village in the hills behind Bordighera, 500 metres above sea level, with fewer than three hundred inhabitants. From its squares you can see the Ligurian Sea, the Maritime Alps and the French coast. The old town is compact and well kept, and you can explore it on foot in a few hours. This has earned it the Touring Club’s Orange Flag and a place among the Borghi più belli d’Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy).
Seborga is best known for its “Principality”. For centuries the village belonged to the monks of Lérins Abbey, who held the title of princes, until it was sold to the House of Savoy in 1729. Since 1963 a local movement has claimed that the sale was invalid and that Seborga is therefore an independent state. No country recognises it: Seborga is an Italian municipality in every respect, but the principality, with its princess, its currency and its sentry boxes, has become an important part of the village’s identity and the main reason many visitors make the trip up here.
The landscape alone makes the visit worthwhile: olive groves, fields of mimosa and broom, stone alleys and viewpoints over the sea. It is an ideal half-day trip from Bordighera or Sanremo, easy to combine with time at the beach or another village in the area.
Seborga is in Liguria (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera dei Fiori, province of Imperia).
What to see
The old town is laid out in concentric rings of narrow alleys lined with small craft shops, all leading to Piazza San Martino. You can see everything on foot in a couple of hours.
This is the heart of the village, overlooked by the parish church and the Palazzo dei Monaci. The cobbled paving and the arched passages leading down towards the houses give a clear sense of the village’s medieval character. In the surrounding alleys you will find shops selling local produce and principality souvenirs such as luigini coins and stamps.
The parish church was built in the first half of the 17th century and has a Baroque façade. It is dedicated to St Martin, the village’s patron saint, whose feast day is 11 November. A cross is laid out in the cobbled churchyard, which local tradition links to the Knights Templar.
Also on Piazza San Martino, the Palazzo dei Monaci was the residence of the Lérins monks and housed the mint: in the 17th century the luigini were struck here, coins used for trade with the Levant. The principality’s coat of arms is clearly visible on the façade. Today it is a private building and can only be seen from outside.
At the entrance to the village stands the Oratorio di San Bernardo, a small church of medieval origin remodelled in the Baroque period. It is the focus of the Feast of San Bernardo on 20 August, the most heartfelt celebration of the summer. According to a tradition widely held in Seborga, Bernard of Clairvaux knighted the first Templars here: historical documents do not confirm this legend, but it is part of the place’s appeal.
A private collection of 135 antique musical instruments from different periods, some with unusual shapes. It is a short and curious visit, suitable for children too. Opening times change with the seasons, so check with the Pro Seborga tourist office before you go.
In the old town you will find the village’s former prison, a small cell that you can look at from outside. A plaque marks the spot; without it, it would be easy to walk past without noticing.
Along the road and at the entrance to the village you will come across the sentry boxes painted in the principality’s colours, and signs welcoming you to the “Principality of Seborga”. In the village you will see the blue and white flag with the crown alongside the Italian tricolour flown by the municipality. The whole story, from the 1729 sale to the 2026 elections, is in our guide to the Principality of Seborga.
From this panoramic square the view stretches from valleys covered in olive trees down to the sea and the Côte d’Azur. It is the best spot for photos, especially on clear days in winter and early spring.
Where to stay
Seborga is very small and has no large hotels: in the village and the surrounding countryside you will mostly find B&Bs, guest rooms and holiday homes. It is the right choice if you want peace and quiet, cool air in summer and sea views at sunset. Without a car, though, getting around is awkward, because the bus does not run on Sundays.
If you want to divide your time between the village and the sea, stay in Bordighera or Sanremo, which have plenty of hotels and good connections, and come up to Seborga for the day.
Nearby alternative
Looking for more choice? Bordighera is 10 km away, by the sea, with hotels, B&Bs and apartments and trains along the coast and to France.
Getting there
Leave the A10 motorway at Bordighera and follow the signs for Seborga: the provincial road climbs through olive groves via Sasso and reaches the village in about 15–20 minutes. The road has quite a few bends, so drive carefully.
The nearest station is Bordighera, on the Genoa–Ventimiglia line. From the station continue by bus or taxi.
Riviera Trasporti line 10 links Bordighera station with Seborga via Sasso in about 25 minutes. It runs on weekdays only, with few journeys a day: on the 2026/27 winter timetable, departures from Bordighera are at 6:25, 10:45, 14:00 and 18:00, with return journeys from Seborga at 6:50, 11:15, 14:30 and 18:30. There is no service on Sundays and public holidays. Always check the current timetable on the Riviera Trasporti website.
The nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur, about 55 km away: by car it takes around 50 minutes, passing Ventimiglia and leaving the motorway at Bordighera. Alternatively, take the train to Ventimiglia and then on to Bordighera.
The old town is small and best explored on foot: leave your car in the car parks near the entrances to the village. On festival days it is worth arriving early.
By car
A10, Bordighera exit; then the provincial road via Sasso, 15–20 minutes
By train
Bordighera station; then bus 10 (weekdays only, about 25 minutes) or taxi
By plane
Nice Côte d'Azur (about 55 km); about 50 minutes by car
The guide
The principality is the first question everyone asks on arrival, so it helps to have the facts straight.
Seborga has lived from farming for centuries: olive trees and flowers fill the terraces around the village. The cooking is typical of the western Ligurian hinterland, with vegetables, herbs and olive oil.
Seborga can be visited all year round. The loveliest time is between late winter and early spring, when the mimosa blooms, followed by the broom; in summer the village is cool compared with the coast and hosts evening events and festivals.
Weather
Late winter for the mimosa; spring and autumn; 20 August San Bernardo
Forecast: MET Norway (Yr), CC BY 4.0 licence. Updated hourly.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea | Off season | Off season | Off season | Off season | Possible | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Off season | Off season |
| Sightseeing and hiking | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Good | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Good |
| Crowds | Few people | Busy | Busy | Busy | Busy | Busy | Very busy | Very busy | Busy | Few people | Few people | Few people |
| Don't miss | Feast of San Bernardo | San Martino and election of the prince | ||||||||||
IdealGoodPossibleOff season
Crowds:QuietFew peopleBusyVery busy
Gallery
FAQ
No. The “Principality of Seborga” is a micronation not recognised by any state. Seborga is an Italian municipality in the province of Imperia; the principality is a symbolic entity run as an association, with an elected princess and its own collector’s currency.
Since 2019 it has been Nina Menegatto, the first woman elected to lead the principality. Her seven-year term ends in 2026 and the elections are set for 22 November 2026.
Piazza San Martino with the parish church and the Palazzo dei Monaci, the Oratorio di San Bernardo, the musical instrument exhibition, the old prisons, the sentry boxes and the viewpoint over the Côte d’Azur.
Half a day is enough for the old town and the viewpoints. With lunch in the village and a walk in the countryside you can stay the whole day.
By train to Bordighera and then on Riviera Trasporti line 10, which takes about 25 minutes. It runs on weekdays only, with four journeys a day on the 2026/27 winter timetable; on Sundays you will need a taxi.
No, in the village you pay in euros. The modern luigino is a collector’s coin that you can buy as a souvenir.
It is a widely held local tradition, according to which Bernard of Clairvaux knighted the first Templars here. There are no historical documents to confirm it.
In late winter, usually between late January and March depending on the year. The seborghina broom flowers later, until mid-April.
About 10 km from Bordighera, 15–20 minutes by car. The nearest beach is in Bordighera.
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