Region of Liguria

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.