Cervo, Liguria

For the stream in the Italian provinces of Biella and Vercelli, see Cervo (river). For the Japanese car, see Suzuki Cervo.

Cervo
—  Comune  —
Comune di Cervo
The village of Cervo
Cervo Location of Cervo in Italy
Coordinates: 43°55′N 8°07′E / 43.917°N 8.117°E / 43.917; 8.117Coordinates: 43°55′N 8°07′E / 43.917°N 8.117°E / 43.917; 8.117
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Province	Province of Imperia (IM)
Area
- Total	3.39 km2 (1.3 sq mi)
Elevation	66 m (217 ft)
Population (31 May 2007)[1]
- Total	1,157
- Density	341.3/km2 (884/sq mi)
Demonym	Cervesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18010
Dialing code	0183
Patron saint	Saint John the Baptist
Saint day	24 June
Website	Official website

Cervo is a small, ancient town and comune, built on top of a hill along the Italian Riviera in the province of Imperia, 1,200 inhabitants.

Overview

Inside the Ethnographic Museum of Western Liguria

Originally, it was, in Roman times, a mansion along the Via Julia Augusta. Slowly expanding, it became, in medieval times, a fief of the Clavesana marquis, who was a subject of the Republic of Genoa, to which Cervo had always been faithful. The present character of Cervo dates from these times: 16th century towers and ramparts are still protecting the village.

One of its main attractions is the fine baroque church of St. John the Baptist, overlooking the sea. The Romanesque "Oratorio di Santa Caterina" contains semi-perished 16th century frescoes. The medieval Clavesana stronghold hosts the remarkable Ethnographic Museum of Western Liguria and the Palazzo Viale-Citati.

People used to earn their living as coral fishermen in the Corsican and Sardinian seas, in addition to being olive growers and seafarers. But the economy of Cervo is nowadays based on tourism and agriculture.

Cervo's connections with classical music date from to 1964, when the International Chamber Music Festival of Cervo was established by the famous Hungarian violinist Sandor Vegh. The event has been held every summer ever since. Music master classes - Accademia di Cervo - are held in September, and a guitar academy is held in June.

References

1. ^ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

Media related to Cervo at Wikimedia Commons

• Official website
• Summer music academy