Imperia

Imperia is a coastal city and in the region of Liguria, Italy. Imperia consists of the two historical districts of Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, which lie on either side of the River Impero that gives its name to the city.

Porto Maurizio is situated on a peninsula to the west of the river, stretching along the coastline. It is the more colourful and wealthy district of the city, threaded by narrow lanes known as carrugi, and its economy centres around the tourist industry. It was a possession of Genoa from the 13th century.

Oneglia lies on an alluvial plain to the east of the Impero, and with its working port is the more modern and industrial of the two districts. At its centre lies Dante Square, from which radiate some of the principal roads of the city.

What to taste:

• Olive oil gives the 'focaccia ligure' its unmistakable genuine flavor. Vessalico's garlic, with its pinkish color, is a rare and prized variety that can only be found in the Valle Arroscia area. In Vessalico, in fact, on July 2nd there is a celebration to present the garlic 'reste', braided by hand by the farmers. This product is essential for the preparation of two other traditional dishes, the pesto and the aje, an egg and olive oil sauce of medieval origin similar to the famous aioli, widespread in France.
• Other traditional products include the Triora bread, baked in large doughs with a mixture of soft wheat and buckwheat. It remains fresh for a long time and can be served with fermented sheep ricotta, the 'bruzzu', or with a local 'malga' goat cheese.
• The Val Roja honey is unique in its kind because of the climate, which is influenced by the Alps and the Mediterranean at the same time.
• The local wines include the Vermentino, the Pigato and the Rossese.

Cities & Towns:

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What to do:

• For nature lovers there seems to be a little of everything with sea, mountains and hills.
• The coast of Sanremo is very lively: besides the Casino, there are numerous opportunities for shopping, many restaurants and clubs open until late night. The area, however, is popular for the adventurous itineraries in the wilderness that, through the woods, lead from the medieval villages to the sea
• The mountains are known as the 'Alps of the sea' and are ideal for biking; for this reason, many mountain bike trails have been built to meet the demand of the more intrepid tourists. In addition, nature and photography enthusiasts can enjoy the different seasonal blossoms in the Ligurian Alps. Here the Trail of Gardens has recently been established to bring together the individual elements of nature, art and culture from areas that shared a similar history, although separated by national boundaries.
• In Imperia, the Cascine Hill hosts Villa Grock, which once received the acclaimed Swiss clown Adrien Wettach; from there, one can hike up to the small Church of S. Luca, where the view over the Mongioje Mountains is spectacular. Finally, the Museo dell'Olivo narrates its guests the centennial history of olive oil and its production.  

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Hard not to notice is the olive groves that spread out in Imperia.
• The central Via Bonfante with its arcades, Galleria Isnardi and Galleria degli Orti with the most exclusive boutiques.
• Ventimiglia is the closest town to the border with France, and it shows the visitor two sides: the archaeological town of the Roman period, an open-air museum with a theatre still in pristine conditions, the Provenza portal, the thermal baths and mosaics.
• Then there's the medieval town, on the right bank of the Roia River, characterized by the monumental walls, the Cathedral of the Assunta, the octagonal-plan Baptistery and the Convent of the Canonichesse Lateranensi. Worth visiting is also the Salvini di Pieve di Teco Theater, the world's smallest theatre. The Imperia province displays an extraordinary flora: from the world-famous palms in Bordighera to the terraces covered with vineyards and olive groves of the Nervia Valley, which confer the landscape incredible colours. Similarly, the trees on the Olivo Hills alternate with houses and villages.
• The valleys between Liguria and Piedmont such as Argentina, Armea and Arroscia have plenty of natural resources that balance the remains of ancient settlements.
• Church of the Annunziata with its neoclassic façade, and the 18th century Scolopi complex.
• The most popular beach of the Riviera is Spiaggia d'Oro, the golden beach, in the port area of Borgo Marina. However, each coastal town of the province, from Imperia to Bordighera, from Arma di Taggia to Diano Marina, to Ospedaletti, offers gorgeous and sunny beaches.

Events:

• On July 2nd in Vessalico there is a celebration to present the garlic 'reste', braided by hand by the farmers.
• Sanremo, the city of flowers, hosts the 1905 Casino, the most prominent building where every year the Festival della Canzone italiana (Italian song festival) is held.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

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Savona

Savona is a seaport in the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente on the Mediterranean Sea, and used to be one of the chief seats of the Italian iron industry, with iron-works and foundries, shipbuilding, railway workshops, engineering shops, brass foundry. Savona has a land area covering 65 square km. its total population is around 61,742 with a density of 921 people per square km.

Savona is the most important city on the west coast of Italy, within reach of the seaside resorts of Alassio, Loano and Varazze.

Savona is a city rich in history and enterprise, largely centering on its port. The most important monument in the city in this regard is the Priamar, a castle stronghold near the port and recently restored.

One of the most celebrated former inhabitants of Savona was the navigator Christopher Columbus, who farmed land in the area while chronicling his journeys. 'Columbus's house', a cottage situated in the Savona hills, lay between vegetable crops and fruit trees. It is just one of many residences in Liguria associated with Columbus.

What to taste:

• Savona dishes are a blend of sea and land with fine herbs and fresh vegetables with their pure and tasty olive oil. Vegetables include spiny artichokes, ox-heart tomatoes and trumpet courgettes. There are the violet asparagus of Albenga, the Savona chinotto, Noli's cicciarelli (type of fish) and the dried chestnuts of Calizzano and Murialdo. Chick peas are the main ingredient of the famous farinata, cooked in wood burning stoves and brass pans. There are also the chick peas called the "panissa", excellent fried in bread or cut into dice and mixed into salads.
• The desserts include the amaretti di Sassello and baci di Alassio.
• Local wines include mainly white wine represented by Pigato, Rossese and Vermentino for the Albenga area, Lumassina from near Finale, Buzzetto and Granaccia coming from the area of Quililano. 

Cities & Towns:

Coming soon

What to do:

• Visit the Regional Natural Parks are Bric Tana; Piana Crixia; the vaster and better known Beigua Regional Natural Park - the only GeoPark in northern Italy; and numerous protected areas holding and safeguarding a rich environmental biodiversity.
• The sea offer water sports and sailing. The sea-beds attract many scuba divers, whether attracted by the exploration of flora and fauna or wreckages and archaeological remains.
• Golf lovers have the top level Garlenda and Albisola Superiore to choose from, both in unique beautiful settings.
• The Cetaceans Sanctuary is an uncontaminated area where one can spot sea mammals such as blue whales, dolphins and sperm whales. This is where they gather in spring and summer to nourish themselves before the winter.

Places to visit: Churches, Museums, Ruins, Piazzas, Fountains,

• Medieval Savona offers enchanting views recalling the florid city it became between the 15th and 16th centuries
• The Pinacoteca Civica di Savona is an excellent Liguria museum with paintings on wood and splendid polyptychs, ceramic vases and w ooden sculpture dating from the 14th century to nowadays
• Toirano and Borgio Verezzi are famous for their grottos, rich in archaeological finds and fascinating rock formations.
• Artistic handicraft is marvellously expressed by the ceramics of Albisola and Savona and the glass works of Altare,thanks to the ancient tradition of capable craftsmen making their land famous in all the world.

Events:

• The Festival Teatrale of Borgo Verezzi in summer animates the magic and panoramic scene of Verezzi.  
• Then there's the Riviera dei Teatri, a professional artistic theatre circuit promoting a deep bond with the territory. There are also many other festivals.
• Culture and the love of tradition give way all year round to a lively carousel of traditional village festivities with competitions and regattas, flowers, fêtes, markets and religious processions.
• The most famous and prestigious of the latter being the historical "Holy Friday Procession" held every two years in Savona. Here local monasteries parade their wooden cases and crucifixes through the town's historical centre.

Tours avaiable in the region:

Accomodations in close proximity: Hotels, Restorts, Holiday Houses, Condo Rentals, Farm Holidays (Agritourismo),

Flights - Car Rentals - Cruises:

Restaurants in close proximity:

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