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Liguria, region of liguria, liguria region
Region of Liguria

Liguria Region: location, history, culture, interest

Liguria is a region in north-west Italy, the capital city of which is Genoa. The coastline is approximately 315 kilometres long and the region has an area of 5,420 square kilometres, making it the third smallest region in Italy. It is bordered by France to the west, Piedmont to the north, and Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the east. Within the region are the provinces of Genova, Imperia, La Spezia and Savona.

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This area, and in particular the towns of Portovenere and Lerici, were made famous by their association with the English poets, Percy Shelley and Lord Byron who lived there in the early 19th century. Shelley died in a boating accident while returning to Lerici from nearby Livorno.

The region is crescent-shaped and stretches from the French frontier, just down the coast from the French Riviera, all the way to the region of Tuscany. Liguria hugs the Mediterranean coastline that looks out onto the Ligurian Sea. The coast to the west is known as the Riviera di Ponente, and contains the resorts of San Remo, Imperia, Alassio, Loano and Finale Liguria.

The coast to the east is known as the Riviera di Levante, and contains the famous harbours of Camogli, Portofino, Santa Margherita Ligure, Rapallo, Sestri Levante as well as the famous and spectacular hillside area called Cinque Terre.

Liguria was named after the Ligures, the pre-Roman ancient people who occupied the area around Liguria during the Iron Age, 1200 BC. In the 1st century AD, the region came under Roman rule. After the fall of the Roman Empire, it fell into the hands of the Byzantines who christened the region ‘Provincia Maritima Italorum’. The Byzantines occupied the region during the early 7th century, shortly followed by a period of Frankish rule.

In this period, the region was also invaded by the Saracens and Normans. By the 11th century, the city of Genoa has started to gain prominence as a leading maritime power, frequently engaging in trading conflicts with the nearby Venice and Savona. This was aided by Genoa’s resounding victory against Pisa in the 1284 Battle of Meloria, in which it seized control of the Tyrrhenian Sea.

However, Liguria fell under the control of the Visconti family of Milan in the 1300s, surrendering to the King of France in 1396, before the French departed in 1409. Liguria saw twelve years of independence, before again coming under Milanese control. The French and Milanese continually fought for Ligurian dominance until finally, the region was granted an aristocratic government, which lasted for 250 years.

After allying with Napolean and the French in 1796, Liguria lost its independence. In the early-1800s, Liguria joined the growing movement for Italian independence (Risorgimento) and in 1861, the different states of the Italian Peninsula became incorporated into the single-state Kingdom of Italy.

The independence allowed Liguria to thrive like never before. Genoa’s port became the main commercial hub of northern Italy and economic growth skyrocketed, largely due to steel mills and shipyards.

During the Second World War, the Germans occupied Liguria for two years, with the region also suffering extensive bombing.

Nowadays, the port of Genoa is the busiest in Italy, the port city of La Spezia is Italy’s main naval base and Savona, Christopher Columbus’ birthplace, is known for the origins of Italy’s rich iron industry. The region is still known for its high-quality shipbuilding, specialising in cruises and yachts.

Flowers are also a vital part of its export industry, with approximately three-quarters of the turnover from the local agriculture sector from flower production alone. The Sanremo Flower Market is a great showcase for the region’s flower trade, the huge 3300 hectare flower market one of the very best in Europe. The city also hosts an annual flower parade (Corso Fiorito) while Ventimiglia’s ‘Battle of Flowers’ is another stunning showcase.

Liguria has a rich geography, with the crescent-shaped region surrounded by the sea and mountains, notably the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges, which provide an uninterrupted border for the region. The land comprises varying mountain heights, the tallest being the Monte Saccarello mountain, which stretches over 7,000 metres. Around Genoa and Savona, heights only reach around 500 metres.

The region is the fourth most densely populated in Italy with over 290 persons per square kilometre. There are 1.6 million residents in total, half of whom live in Genoa. Genoa is a city known for being home to two celebrated football clubs; Genoa C.F.C.and U.C. Sampdoria, with famous Italian footballers Gianluca Vialli and Roberto Mancini having represented the latter during the 1980s and ‘90s.

Many well-known staples of Italian cuisine derive from Liguria. The most famous is Pesto alla Genovese, a classic sauce containing basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheese. Linguine pasta (which means ‘little tongues’) also comes from Genoa and is one of the most popular pasta types in the world. For a true Ligurian dish, cook al dente linguine with potatoes, green beans and pesto alla Genovese.

You can then elevate your Ligurian dish to the next level by sampling some of the incredible wines the region has to offer. Liguria is a wine region, having many Denominazione di Origine Controllata (DOC) regions, of which the most notable are Colli di Luni (famous for its Sangiovese) and Cinque Terre (home of the rare Sciacchetrà sweet wine).

Liguria is considered one of the most beautiful stretches of coast in the world. A common tourist route is to fly into one of the region’s main airports, Cristoforo Colombo International airport in Genoa, and drive to some of the many fishing villages. Tourists also often arrive via boat to the port of Genoa from locations such as Barcelona Canary Islands, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily.

The beaches are the flagship product of the region’s tourism, with the Riviera’s beaches accounting for 79% of tourist traffic. Over half of tourists say they visit Liguria for its ‘natural beauty’, closely followed by ‘cultural heritage’ and ‘interest in the region’s food and wine’.

Liguria’s climate is relatively mild, with the surrounding mountains providing shelter from harsh winds. The clement weather conditions are another pull for tourists, also providing ample conditions for the famous flowers, olive oil and DOC wine that the region is so well-known for.

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In 2015 the ABC School opened a new office in the enchanting Baia del Silenzio (Bay of Silence) in Sestri Levante (Genoa), one of the most beautiful beaches in Italy.
Flag of Liguria
liguria flag
  • Regional Information

    • Area: 5,420 km²
      Population: 1.6m
      Density: 297/km²
      Capital: Genoa

      National Parks:
      Cinque Terre
Location of Liguria
liguria location
Provinces of Liguria
liguria provinces
  • Comunes of Liguria
    • Genova
      • Arenzano
        Avegno
        Bargagli
        Bogliasco
        Borzonasca
        Busalla
        Camogli
        Campo Ligure
        Campomorone
        Carasco
        Casarza Ligure
        Casella
        Castiglione Chiavarese
        Ceranesi
        Chiavari
        Cicagna
        Cogoleto
        Cogorno
        Coreglia Ligure
        Crocefieschi
        Davagna
        Fascia
        Favale di Malvaro
        Fontanigorda
        Genova
        Gorreto
        Isola del Cantone
        Lavagna
        Leivi
        Lorsica
        Lumarzo
        Masone
        Mele
        Mezzanego
        Mignanego
        Moconesi
        Moneglia
        Montebruno
        Montoggio
        Ne
        Neirone
        Orero
        Pieve Ligure
        Portofino
        Propata
        Rapallo
        Recco
        Rezzoaglio
        Ronco Scrivia
        Rondanina
        Rossiglione
        Rovegno
        San Colombano Certenoli
        Santa Margherita Ligure
        Santo Stefano d’Aveto
        Sant’Olcese
        Savignone
        Serra Riccò
        Sestri Levante
        Sori
        Tiglieto
        Torriglia
        Tribogna
        Uscio
        Valbrevenna
        Vobbia
        Zoagli

    • Imperia
      • Airole
        Apricale
        Aquila d’Arroscia
        Armo
        Aurigo
        Badalucco
        Bajardo
        Bordighera
        Borghetto d’Arroscia
        Borgomaro
        Camporosso
        Caravonica
        Carpasio
        Castel Vittorio
        Castellaro
        Ceriana
        Cervo
        Cesio
        Chiusanico
        Chiusavecchia
        Cipressa
        Civezza
        Cosio d’Arroscia
        Costarainera
        Diano Arentino
        Diano Castello
        Diano Marina
        Diano San Pietro
        Dolceacqua
        Dolcedo
        Imperia
        Isolabona
        Lucinasco
        Mendatica
        Molini di Triora
        Montalto Ligure
        Montegrosso Pian Latte
        Olivetta San Michele
        Ospedaletti
        Perinaldo
        Pietrabruna
        Pieve di Teco
        Pigna
        Pompeiana
        Pontedassio
        Pornassio
        Prelà
        Ranzo
        Rezzo
        Riva Ligure
        Rocchetta Nervina
        San Bartolomeo al Mare
        San Biagio della Cima
        San Lorenzo al Mare
        Sanremo
        Santo Stefano al Mare
        Seborga
        Soldano
        Taggia
        Terzorio
        Triora
        Vallebona
        Vallecrosia
        Vasia
        Ventimiglia
        Vessalico
        Villa Faraldi

    • La Spezia
      • Ameglia
        Arcola
        Beverino
        Bolano
        Bonassola
        Borghetto di Vara
        Brugnato
        Calice al Cornoviglio
        Carro
        Carrodano
        Castelnuovo Magra
        Deiva Marina
        Follo
        Framura
        La Spezia
        Lerici
        Levanto
        Maissana
        Monterosso al Mare
        Ortonovo
        Pignone
        Portovenere
        Riccò del Golfo di Spezia
        Riomaggiore
        Rocchetta di Vara
        Santo Stefano di Magra
        Sarzana
        Sesta Godano
        Varese Ligure
        Vernazza
        Vezzano Ligure
        Zignago

    • Savona
      • Alassio
        Albenga
        Albisola Superiore
        Albissola Marina
        Altare
        Andora
        Arnasco
        Balestrino
        Bardineto
        Bergeggi
        Boissano
        Borghetto Santo Spirito
        Borgio Verezzi
        Bormida
        Cairo Montenotte
        Calice Ligure
        Calizzano
        Carcare
        Casanova Lerrone
        Castelbianco
        Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena
        Celle Ligure
        Cengio
        Ceriale
        Cisano sul Neva
        Cosseria
        Dego
        Erli
        Finale Ligure
        Garlenda
        Giustenice
        Giusvalla
        Laigueglia
        Loano
        Magliolo
        Mallare
        Massimino
        Millesimo
        Mioglia
        Murialdo
        Nasino
        Noli
        Onzo
        Orco Feglino
        Ortovero
        Osiglia
        Pallare
        Piana Crixia
        Pietra Ligure
        Plodio
        Pontinvrea
        Quiliano
        Rialto
        Roccavignale
        Sassello
        Savona
        Spotorno
        Stella
        Stellanello
        Testico
        Toirano
        Tovo San Giacomo
        Urbe
        Vado Ligure
        Varazze
        Vendone
        Vezzi Portio
        Villanova d’Albenga
        Zuccarello
Hotels in Liguria
liguria hotels
LiguriaWEATHER
Liguria Climate (Genoa)
  High Low Sun Rain
Jan 11 2 3 55
Feb 12 3 4 53
Mar 14 4 5 63
Apr 18 7 6 55
May 22 11 8 35
Jun 26 15 9 44
Jul 29 17 10 34
Aug 29 17 9 54
Sep 25 14 7 61
Oct 21 11 6 74
Nov 16 8 4 71
Dec 12 3 3 77
Table Key:
High - Average monthly high temperatures
Low - Average monthly low temperatures
Sun - Average hours of sunshine per day
Rain - Average monthly rainfall in mm
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