Italian Riviera
The Italian Riviera, or Ligurian Riviera, is the narrow coastal strip in Italy which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines. Longitudinally it extends from the border with France and the French Riviera near Ventimiglia eastwards to Capo Corvo which marks the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia and is close to the regional border between Liguria and Tuscany. The Italian Riviera thus includes nearly all of the coastline of Liguria. Historically the "Riviera" extended further to the west, through what is now French territory as far as Marseille.
Overview
The Riviera's centre is Genoa, which divides it into two main sections: the Riviera di Ponente, extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and the Riviera di Levante between Genoa and Capo Corvo.It is famous for its particularly mild climate and relaxed way of life which, together with the charm of its old fishing ports and the beauty of its landscape, has made it a popular destination for travellers and tourists since the time of Byron and Percy Shelley.
Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as Portofino, Bordighera, Lerici and the Cinque Terre.
The part of the Riviera di Ponente centred on Savona, is called the "Riviera delle Palme" ; the part centred on Sanremo, is the "Riviera dei Fiori", after the long-established flower growing industry.
Places on or near the Italian Riviera include:
Municipality | Province or Metropolitan City |
Ventimiglia | Imperia |
Camporosso | Imperia |
Vallecrosia | Imperia |
Bordighera | Imperia |
Ospedaletti | Imperia |
San Remo | Imperia |
Taggia | Imperia |
Riva Ligure | Imperia |
Santo Stefano al Mare | Imperia |
Cipressa | Imperia |
Costarainera | Imperia |
San Lorenzo al Mare | Imperia |
Imperia | Imperia |
Diano Marina | Imperia |
San Bartolomeo al Mare | Imperia |
Cervo | Imperia |
Andora | Savona |
Laigueglia | Savona |
Alassio | Savona |
Albenga | Savona |
Ceriale | Savona |
Borghetto Santo Spirito | Savona |
Loano | Savona |
Pietra Ligure | Savona |
Borgio Verezzi | Savona |
Finale Ligure | Savona |
Noli | Savona |
Spotorno | Savona |
Bergeggi | Savona |
Vado Ligure | Savona |
Savona | Savona |
Albissola Marina | Savona |
Albisola Superiore | Savona |
Celle Ligure | Savona |
Varazze | Savona |
Cogoleto | Genoa |
Arenzano | Genoa |
Genoa | Genoa |
Bogliasco | Genoa |
Pieve Ligure | Genoa |
Sori | Genoa |
Recco | Genoa |
Camogli | Genoa |
Portofino | Genoa |
Santa Margherita Ligure | Genoa |
Rapallo | Genoa |
Zoagli | Genoa |
Chiavari | Genoa |
Lavagna | Genoa |
Sestri Levante | Genoa |
Moneglia | Genoa |
Deiva Marina | La Spezia |
Framura | La Spezia |
Bonassola | La Spezia |
Levanto | La Spezia |
Monterosso al Mare | La Spezia |
Vernazza | La Spezia |
Riomaggiore | La Spezia |
La Spezia | La Spezia |
Portovenere | La Spezia |
Lerici | La Spezia |
Ameglia | La Spezia |
Sarzana | La Spezia |
[UNESCO World Heritage Site]
- Portovenere, Cinque Terre, and the Islands
Gardens
- Giardini Botanici Hanbury, Mortola Inferiore, Ventimiglia, Liguria.
- Giardino all'italiana Cervara Abbey, Santa Margherita Ligure, Liguria.
- Villa Durazzo-Pallavicini, Pegli, Genoa, Liguria.
- Villa Durazzo-Centurione, Santa Margherita Ligure, Liguria.
- Villa Grimaldi Fassio, Nervi, Genoa, Liguria.
- Villa Saluzzo Serra, Nervi, Genoa, Liguria.
Events and festivals
- Carnevalöa - Carnival of Loano
- Barcalorata in Sestri Levante
- Sanremo in Fiore - Corso Fiorito - Carnival of Sanremo
- Euroflora in Nervi Genoa
- Festival Internazionale del Balletto e della Musica in Nervi Genoa
- Festival della Scienza in Genoa
- Genoa International Boat Show
- Premio Paganini in Genoa
- Sanremo Music Festival
- Rallye Sanremo, the event was part of the FIA World Rally Championship schedule from the 1973 season to the 2003 season
- Riviera International Film Festival
- Milan-Sanremo annual cycling race
- Regatta of the Historical Marine Republics in Genoa
Yacht clubs
- Yacht Club Italiano, Genoa
- Yacht Club Tigullio, Santa Margherita Ligure, Genoa
- Yacht Club Rapallo, Rapallo, Genoa
- Yacht Club Marina di Loano, Loano, Savona
- Yacht Club Imperia, Imperia
- Yacht Club Sanremo, Sanremo, Imperia
Typical cuisine, food and wine
- Pesto
- Trofie al Pesto
- Trenette al Pesto
- Mandilli al Pesto
- Pansoti alla salsa di noci
- Focaccia Genovese
- Focaccia di Recco
- Focaccia con le cipolle
- Focaccia con le olive
- Farinata di ceci
- Taggiasca olives
- Spumante Bisson Abissi
- Sciacchetrà
- Pigato
- Rossese
Painters
- Andrea Ansaldo
- Bernardo Strozzi
- Gioacchino Assereto
- Giovanni Lorenzo Bertolotto
- Giovan Battista Gaulli
Healthcare
- Sanremo Hospital
- Imperia Hospital
- Santa Maria di Misericordia Hospital, Albenga
- Santa Corona Hospital, Pietra Ligure
- San Paolo Hospital, Savona
- La Colletta Hospital, Arenzano
- Evangelico Hospital, Voltri, Genoa
- Antero Micone Hospital, Sestri Ponente, Genoa
- Villa Scassi Hospital, Sampierdarena, Genoa
- Galliera Hospital, Genoa
- San Martino Hospital, Genoa
- Villa Montallegro Private Clinic, Genoa
- Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa
- Sant'Antonio Hospital, Recco
- Lavagna Hospital
- Sestri Levante Hospital
- Sant'Andrea Hospital, La Spezia
Islands of Liguria
- Bergeggi
- Isola Gallinara
- Palmaria
- Tino
- Tinetto
- Scola