Imperia

Imperia
—  Comune  —
Comune di Imperia
Panorama of Imperia
Coat of arms
Imperia Location of Imperia in Italy
Coordinates: 43°53′N 8°2′E / 43.883°N 8.033°E / 43.883; 8.033Coordinates: 43°53′N 8°2′E / 43.883°N 8.033°E / 43.883; 8.033
Country	Italy
Region	Liguria
Province	Imperia (IM)
Frazioni	Artallo, Borgo d'Oneglia, Cantalupo, Caramagna, Castelvecchio, Clavi, Costa d'Oneglia, Massabovi, Moltedo, Montegrazie, Oliveto, Piani, Poggi, Sant'Agata
Government
- Mayor	Paolo Strescino (since 07 June 2009)
Area
- Total	45.95 km2 (17.7 sq mi)
Elevation	10 m (33 ft)
Population (2008)
- Total	41,818
- Density	910.1/km2 (2,357.1/sq mi)
- Demonym	Imperiesi
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
- Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	18100
Dialing code	0183
Patron saint	Leonard of Port Maurice, Saint John (Oneglia)
Saint day	26 November
Website	Official website

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

A representation of Porto Maurizio in the early 1800s.

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 expansion 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

The economy of Imperia is based on tourism, food industry (olive oil and pasta), a specialized agriculture (olive groves and flowers in greenhouses) and on trading and harbour activities. The seaside tourism represents an important aspect of the economy of Imperia. It is necessary, though, to recognize that the tourism development does not seem adequately supported as accommodation facilities (hotels, clubs, etc.) lack infrastructure (street network, car parks) and the environmental care (beaches, hinterland, etc.) shows some deficiency.

Main sights

View of Porto Maurizio from the sea.

Porto Maurizio

St. Maurice Cathedral.

Villa Grock.

• 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 Imperia:

• Pellegrino Amoretti, assistant secretary to Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
• Saint Leonard of Port Maurice
• Andrea Doria(1466–1560), the famous admiral
• Carlo Amoretti (1741–1816)
• Maria Amoretti (1756–1787)
• Giovan Pietro Viesseux (1779-1863), writer and publisher, was born in Oneglia [1]
• Edmondo de Amicis (1846–1908)
• Giulio Natta (1903–1979), Nobel Prize winner in 1963
• Francesco Moraldo, Creppo di Triora (1906 - 2001), Righteous Among the Nations in 1999
• Alessandro Natta (1918–2001)
• Luciano Berio (1925–2003)
• Renato Dulbecco, Nobel Prize winner

Twin cities

• Mandelieu-la-Napoule, France
• Rosario, Argentina
• Newport, USA

Notes and references

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.

External links

• City of Imperia website (Italian)
• Province of Imperia website (Italian)
• Imperia Mare Association website (Italian) (English) (French)
• Museo dell' Olivo website (Italian) (English) (German) (French)
• Language school website (Italian) (English) (German) (French)