Imperia (city)

Infobox CityIT
official_name = Comune di Imperia
img_coa = Imperia-Stemma.png img_coa_small =


image_caption =
region = RegioneIT|sigla=LIG
province = ProvinciaIT (short form)|sigla=IM (IM)
mayor = Luigi Sappa (since 14 June 2004)
mayor_party =
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 10
area_footnotes =
area_total_km2 = 45.95
population_footnotes =
population_as_of = 31-05-2007
population_total = 41252
pop_density_footnotes =
population_density_km2 = 897,75
coordinates = coord|43|53|0|N|8|2|0|E|region:IT_type:city(41252)
gentilic = Imperiesi
telephone = 0183
postalcode = 18100
frazioni = Artallo, Borgo d'Oneglia, Cantalupo, Caramagna, Castelvecchio, Clavi, Costa d'Oneglia, Massabovi, Moltedo, Montegrazie, Oliveto, Piani, Poggi, Sant'Agata
saint = Leonard of Port Maurice, Saint John (Oneglia)
day = 26 November
mapx = #expr:43 + 53 / 60.0
mapy = #expr:8 + 2 / 60.0
locator_position =
native_name = Imperia
name = Imperia
website = http://www.comune.imperia.it/
Imperia is a coastal city and "comune" in the region of Liguria, Italy. It is the capital of the province of Imperia, and historically it was capital of the "Intemelia" district of Liguria.

Imperia is well known for the cultivation of flowers and olives, and is a popular destination for visitors in summer. The local indoor-pool "Piscina Felice Cascione" already hosted quite a number of national and international aquatics events.

Geography

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 ("Inéja" in Ligurian) 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.

History

The name of Oneglia may have its roots in the pre-Roman settlement of "Pagus Unelia", on the hill of Castelvecchio, which was probably one of the "sex oppida" of the Liguri. This spawned "Ripa Uneliae", a village down on the coast probably on the site of the modern-day "Borgo Peri". Modern Oneglia became established on its modern site around 935AD, possibly after it was destroyed by the Saracens; in 1100 it became a fief of the Diocese of Albenga. In 1298 Oneglia became part of the fiefdom of the Doria family of Genoa; the famous admiral Andrea Doria (1466-1560) was born in the town. The Dorias sold the town to Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy in 1576, and Oneglia essentially remained a Savoyard enclave in the Republic of Genoa until Italian unification. Nonetheless, it was on the front line in the wars of the House of Savoy - it was seized in 1614 and 1649 by the Spaniards and in 1623 and 1672 by the Genoese. In 1692 it had to repulse an attack by a French squadron; in 1744-1745 it was again occupied by the Spaniards, and in 1792 bombarded and burned by the French.

Porto Maurizio was a Roman settlement, "Portus Maurici", named after Saint Maurice, leader of the Theban Legion who were martyred in 286. It became a Byzantine port in the sixth century, then passed to the Order of Saint Benedict. It was subject to the Counts of Turin in the eleventh century, and then Clavesana. Boniface of Clavesana sold the town to the Republic of Genoa in 1288 in return for a yearly payment, as part of Genoa's expanion into western Liguria. In 1354 it became the seat of the Genoese vicar of the western Riviera. The town prospered even though control of Genoa passed between the French, the Duchy of Milan, and the Spanish. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, it was awarded to the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia, before finally joining a united Italy in 1861.

Mussolini created the city of Imperia on 21 October 1923 by the union of Porto Maurizio and Oneglia and the surrounding village communes of Piani, Caramagna Ligure, Castelvecchio di Santa Maria Maggiore, Borgo Sant'Agata, Costa d'Oneglia, Poggi, Torrazza, Moltedo and Montegrazie.

Economy

Oneglia was important for olive oil, agriculture, and manufacturing.

Main sights

Porto Maurizio

* The classical Cathedral of San Maurizio, built between 1781 and 1832 by Gaetano Cantoni, is the largest church in Liguria. (www.parrocchiasanmaurizio.it)
* Old Town, called "Parasio".
* Convent of "Santa Chiara". First established in 1365, the existing structure dates from 1741.
* There is a small Naval Museum in the town.

Oneglia

* "Museo dell' Olivo" ("The Olive Tree Museum").
*"Villa Grock"
* Church of "San Giovanni Battista", built in 1739-1762.

Montegrazie

*Church of "Santa Maria Maggiore".
*Shrine of "Nostra Signora delle Grazie"

Famous residents

Natives of Oneglia:
*Pellegrino Amoretti, assistant secretary to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
*Andrea Doria, the famous admiral Natives of Porto Maurizio:
*Saint Leonard of Port Maurice

Twin cities

*flagicon|FRA Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France
* Rosario, Argentina
* Newport, USA

Notes and references

External links

* [http://www.comune.imperia.it City of Imperia website] it icon
* [http://www.provincia.imperia.it Province of Imperia website] it icon
* [http://www.imperiamare.it/imperiamare/index-e.htm Imperia Mare Association website] it icon en icon fr icon
* [http://www.museodellolivo.com/eng/index.htm Museo dell' Olivo website] it icon en icon de icon fr icon
* [http://www.idrock.co.uk/Imperiainfopage.htm Language school website] it icon en icon de icon fr icon