It only takes 45 minutes by car from Nice to be plunged into atmospheres and rhythms of long ago. In a magnificent position up the Valle Nervia we come across Perinaldo, one of the oldest and most typical Ligurian villages. Perinaldo looks upwards beyond the horizon towards the blue of the heavens; here the sky is untainted by air and light pollution with some of the clearest views in the area.

The mountainous terrain means that winds reach the very highest points, preventing clouds and unsettled weather from staying around too long. These conditions were first appreciated by Gian Domenico Cassini, born in Perinaldo in 1625, the first of four generations of astronomers. The importance of the research carried out by Cassini when he was Professor of the Faculty of Astronomy at Bologna University, made him one of the most famous European astronomers of that time. His reputation stretched as far as the court of the Sun King (Louis XIV) - he was called to take over the Observatoire Royal, which had just been established in Paris.

His discoveries form the basis of modern astronomy: he was the first to identify four of the seventeen moons of Saturn, and the division between the rings of the same planet that still bears his name today (the Cassini division). Cassini also calculated the distance between the Earth and our nearest planets. He measured the time taken for Mars, Venus and Jupiter to complete one whole rotation and described the dust belt encircling the latter. Because of these and many other important discoveries, the joint NASA/ESA mission with the aim of exploring the Saturn system and releasing the Huygens probe on Titan, its largest satellite, was named after Cassini.

A jump back to the Middle Ages, scanning the sky during the night watching the stars and discovering the mysteries of the universe. Evil is much closer to home than you thought! Reach for the stars in the museum and astronomy observatory 'G.D. Cassini' at Perinaldo. The Observatory has two public telescopes, one fixed, in a dome, the other mobile. Open all year round, there's no need to book during scheduled evenings. Visits are led by qualified personnel (two astronomers accompanied by astrophiles) and consist in using the observation instruments, in lessons and discussions supported by audio-visual materials.

How to get there: Autostrada dei Fiori (A10) Genoa - Ventimiglia. The car is certainly the best way of exploring this lovely region, which climbs among olive groves, vineyards and broom in the immediate hinterland of Bordighera. Leaving the Aurelia in Ventimiglia we arrive first at Dolceacqua and further up we come across Perinaldo. From here, in fact we go down towards Bordighera via Seborga, the smallest principality in the world. Or vice versa - it's your choice of route!

Liguria - here you can find arts and culture, a wonderful ambience, authentic service, ambition and elegance. This unusual combination of harmony and culture is the perfect place for celebrations of all kinds. Decide for yourself - the sporty weekend, the family party, the company incentive, a romantic picnic for two or a gathering of friends in an enchanting atmosphere? To find out more visit the Riviera dei Fiori website or contact VivaDolceVita on +39 333 932 6627. 

CONTACT DETAILS
Museo Cassiniano/
Osservatorio Astronomico G.D. Cassini
Piazza Mons. Rossi
18032 Perinaldo

Telephone: 0039 - 0184 672001

Lead image 'Cassini Saturn Orbit Insertion' courtesy NASA