Welcome to Liguria!

Genova
Imperia
La Spezia
Savona

Miles of coastline, Liguria is a narrow area over the northern part of the Mediterranean. The mountains form a shelter against the cold northern winds, keeping the weather mild for most of the year. Ligurians live in a tiny valley between the sea and the mountains a few miles inland.

Liguria's environment produces tasty, healthy vegetables and a wealth of wild salad greens and aromatic herbs, including basil, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram. Olives are plentifull. They are used to produce a light, sweet oil that is only fat that is used in local cooking.

The beauty of Ligurian cuisine lies in its simplicity and balance. Pesto is the perfect example of the delicate regions touch. It was this crushed basil sauce that put this region's name on the culinary map, and Ligurian pesto is the best in the world. Another shining example of Liguria's classic simplicity is its focaccia.

Genova

The population of Genoa (as of 2008) is aprox. 700,000 .

Named after a mythical two-headed Greek God, Janus, protector of ships, obviously due to the fact of its important role as a maritime center.  The name derives from a Ligurian tribal word, for "knee" (genu), or the Latin name for gate, "janua".

The city is set at the foot of mountains in the Gulf of Genoa at the most northerly end of the Tyrrhenian Sea, where at one time it ruled the maritime world.

The Old Quarter of Genoa, is especially breathtaking for those who like to explore. It is best to travel slowly, on foot through the narrow streets which are meticulously kept, as are the expansiv mansions of medieval merchants which line them.  Around the Palazzo Reale, many shops sell Turkish carpets and the best of silk - an eloquent testimony of Genoa's past links with Asia.

Genoa has fine examples of Roman and Baroque Church architecture. The Palazzo Ducale is another regal structure, now used for exhibitions, and if you are lucky to arrive at the right time, the occasional outside concert as well.

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.

La Spezia

The Province of La Spezia has a surface area of 881 sq km, with a total population of over 222,000 inhabitants.

It is made up of 32 Municipalities. In its territory is one of the true jewels of Italy, the celebrated Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site: the five small coastal villages of Riomaggiore, Manarola, Corniglia (a frazione of Vernazza), Vernazza and Monterosso al Mare, are completely free of car traffic, and can be reached only by a railway, hiking trails and a pedestrian ferry service

Today, La Spezia is the chief Italian naval station and arsenal and the seat of a navigation school. It is also a commercial port, with shipyards and industries producing machinery, metal products, and refined petroleum.

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.

Links to fascinating sites