Castello dei Doria

About the museum

The castle overlooks the medieval village of Dolceacqua, in the Val Nervia. It is first mentioned in 1177, when the place was owned by the counts of Ventimiglia; in 1270 the fief was bought by Oberto Doria, and for centuries the history of the town was identified with that of the lordship of the Doria marquises.

The oldest nucleus is a circular tower, to which a bastion and two square towers were added in the 16th century. Over time the fortress became a noble residence; it was then severely damaged in 1744 by Franco-Spanish artillery during the War of the Austrian Succession, and further damaged by the earthquake of 1887.

After works completed in 2018, almost the entire complex can be visited and offers a panoramic route over the valley. The rooms now house exhibition and multimedia spaces dedicated to the history of the castle, the town and its traditions; in 2019 Claude Monet’s painting “Le Château de Dolceacqua” was displayed there for a few months.

Highlights

• Doria-Grimaldi rooms with multimedia exhibits on the ties between the two families
• Panoramic route over the valley, from the sea to the Rossese vineyards
• Room on the history of the castle and of Dolceacqua
• Film on Monet’s visit to Dolceacqua
• Virtual tour of the castle

Permanent exhibitions

• Sale Doria-Grimaldi – Interactive multimedia exhibits on the historical ties between the Doria and Grimaldi families and the town of Dolceacqua, with content in Italian, English and French.
• Sala della storia del castello e di Dolceacqua – Room devoted to the history of the castle, its monuments, local products and ancient traditions of Dolceacqua, with a short film on Monet’s visit.

Founded

1177

Operated by

Comune di Dolceacqua (gestione Cooperativa Omnia)

Admission & discounts

Prices from a museionline listing updated in December 2024; the official site does not publish prices.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

The castle has a conference room and a kitchen equipped for catering.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Conference room for 100 people and a kitchen equipped for catering; the castle can host exhibitions, conferences and weddings.

Plan your visit