{"id":53512,"date":"2026-09-30T16:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/darkseagreen-rook-345411.hostingersite.com\/liguria\/seborga\/"},"modified":"2026-10-08T18:09:30","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T18:09:30","slug":"seborga","status":"publish","type":"localita","link":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-ponente\/seborga\/","title":{"rendered":"Seborga"},"content":{"rendered":"

Seborga is a small village in the hills behind Bordighera<\/a>, 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 pi\u00f9 belli d’Italia (the most beautiful villages in Italy).<\/p>\n

Seborga is best known for its “Principality”. For centuries the village belonged to the monks of L\u00e9rins 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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a>, easy to combine with time at the beach or another village in the area.<\/p>\n

What to see in Seborga<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Piazza San Martino and the old town<\/h3>\n
\"Square<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Church of San Martino<\/h3>\n
\"Church<\/figure>\n

The parish church was built in the first half of the 17th century and has a Baroque fa\u00e7ade. 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.<\/p>\n

Palazzo dei Monaci<\/h3>\n
\"Palazzo<\/figure>\n

Also on Piazza San Martino, the Palazzo dei Monaci was the residence of the L\u00e9rins 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 fa\u00e7ade. Today it is a private building and can only be seen from outside.<\/p>\n

Oratorio di San Bernardo<\/h3>\n
\"Church<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Permanent exhibition of musical instruments<\/h3>\n
\"Antique<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The old prisons<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The sentry boxes and symbols of the principality<\/h3>\n
\"Square<\/figure>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Viewpoint at Piazza Martiri Patrioti<\/h3>\n
\"Nature<\/figure>\n

From this panoramic square the view stretches from valleys covered in olive trees down to the sea and the C\u00f4te d’Azur. It is the best spot for photos, especially on clear days in winter and early spring.<\/p>\n

The Principality of Seborga in brief<\/h2>\n

The principality is the first question everyone asks on arrival, so it helps to have the facts straight.<\/p>\n