Boutique & Romantic Hotels in Liguria, Italy

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Liguria

Liguria may be small by Italian standards (a surface area of only 5431 sq Km) but it is beautifully endowed – a mountainous and hilly region which takes in part of the Maritime Alps and the Ligurian Apennines.

The variety of its vegetation and wildlife is impressive indeed and amongst the most diversified and interesting in Italy. Small wonder, therefore, that some of the nicknames it has been given included “Paradise Gulf", "Siren bay" and "Bay of fairy tales".

Whatever the name, all testify to its dramatic coastline. Indeed, Liguria, facing the Tyrrhenian Sea, forms an imposing arc, with the Gulf of Genoa in its centre.

It is characterised by an alternating series of magnificent high coastlines and flat, whilst in the interior the steep hills meet up with the Apennines peaks.

History Between the XI and the XV century (when the Genoese ships played a major role in the first crusade) Genoa experienced an extraordinary political and commercial growth (mainly through the spice trades with the East) and it became the most powerful of the Mediterranean maritime republics.

Eventually, however, internal divisions led to a weakening of its position and a period of French domination. This French influence ceased in 1528, when Andrea Doria became the prestigious ally of the powerful king of Spain and imposed a new government, one which gave the republic a relative stability during the next 2 and ½ centuries.

The French influence surfaced up again, however, after the union of Oneglia and Loano (1801), Liguria was annexed (1805) and divided by Napoleon into three departments: Montenotte, with capital Savona, Genoa and the department of the Apennines, with capital Chiavari.

The Genoese upraising against the House of Savoy in 1821, which was put down with great bloodshed, aroused the population’s national sentiments. Some of the most prestigious figures of the Risorgimento were born in Liguria (Mazzini, Garibaldi, Mameli, Bixio).

In the first years of the century the region witnessed remarkable economic growth, with industries flourishing from Imperia to La Spezia.

Culture Ruins of the Roman civilization can be seen in Ventimiglia and in the Lunigiana district. In the region the examples of Romanesque architecture are numerous, such as St. Paragorio in Noli.

Important medieval traces, such as towers, walls and castles, dating back to the Maritime Republics, can be found in the Riviera di Ponente, as well as a number of fine examples of Baroque architecture.

Activities Do take time to visit the interior, with Dolceacqua, Balardo, Portofino, one of the most fascinating resorts in Liguria, San Fruttuoso, Punta Chiappa, the Natural Park of Capo Noli.