The most ancient part of Dolce Aqua lies on the left side of the river, which is crossed by an old bridge of one span, having the roadway stepped up on each side, and showing traces of old fortifications. Above this the houses rise in tiers, forming a dense and confused labyrinth of narrow lanes and dark tunnels--many of the former [Illustration: FIG. 271. SAN SIRO, SAN REMO (_N. Doorway_).] crossed by strengthening arches thrown between the houses on each side (Fig. 266). Dominating the whole stand the proud ruins of the castle of the Dorias (Fig. 267), a family famous in the history of Genoa and the Riviera. It is a building of a late date (seventeenth century), and has been defended with great bastions mounted with cannons (Fig. 268), surrounded with walls, and provided with a drawbridge. The castle has evidently contained large and sumptuous apartments, but the interior is now reduced to total ruin. The town has also been provided with fortifications, of which one tower near the river has been appropriated and heightened into a church steeple (Fig. 268). The castle has been abandoned since the wars of 1748, and the descendants of the Dorias now occupy a mansion, situated under the walls, in which there is a finely carved chimney piece, and an interesting collection of family portraits. The town of PIGNA, about ten miles further up the valley, is said to contain a good church of the fifteenth century, with pointed arches, and a fine painting of the sixteenth century. [Illustration: FIG. 272. GATEWAY AND STREET IN TAGGIA.] Passing the ancient republic of Bordighera, with its arcaded streets and splendid palm gardens, we soon reach SAN REMO. This ancient town, originally independent, came ultimately, like the rest of the Riviera, under the authority of Genoa. It consists as usual of one principal street along the narrow strip of ground between the base [Illustration: FIG. 273. DOORWAY IN TAGGIA.] of the hill on which the old town stands and the sea. The town consists of the ordinary pile of terraced houses with narrow tortuous streets and steep flights of steps leading up to them. There is here an extraordinary profusion of the arches, of which we have met with examples elsewhere, thrown across the narrow streets, in order to strengthen the houses against the shocks of earthquake to which this region is liable. These features sometime produce, together with the stairs and tall houses, extraordinary combinations and effects (Figs. 269 and 270). The cathedral of San Siro, which stands detached in a small “place,” has some good Italian features still preserved,--amongst which are the north and south doorways (Fig. 271), the remainder having been greatly modernised and spoiled. In the main street there are some fair specimens of Renaissance palaces, somewhat in the style of those of Genoa. [Illustration: FIG. 274. DOORWAY IN TAGGIA.]