Entry for "Italian Riviera" in 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

By Luigi Speranza

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THE ITALIAN RIVIERA, the narrow belt of coast which lies between the mountains and the sea all round the Gulf of Genova in the north of Italy, extending from Nizza on the west to Spezia on the east.

It is usually spoken of as Riviera di Ponente (“the coast of the setting sun”), the portion between Nizza and the city of Genova.

And as Riviera di Levante (“the coast of the rising sun”), the portion from Genova to Spezia.

All this district, being open to the south and sheltered from the north and east winds, enjoys a remarkably mild climate (winter mean, about 49º Fahr.).

So much so that the vegetation in many places partakes of a subtropical character (e.g. the pomegranate, agave, prickly pear, date, palm and banana).

Large numbers of flowers, especially roses, violets, hyacinths, &c., are grown near Nizza, Mentone, Bordighera and other towns, and sent to the London and Paris markets.

Bordighera is particularly noted for its noble groves of date-palms, one of the few places in Europe where these trees grow.

The uncommon mildness of the climate, conjoined with the natural beauty of the coast scenery, — the steep sea-crags, the ruined towers and the range of the Maritime Alps, — attracts thousands to spend their holidays in the chain of towns and villages which stretch from the one end of the Riviera to the other.

All these resorts are frequented for sea-bathing by the Italians.

Proceeding from west to east the following are the places to which visitors principally resort:

Nizza

Monaco (an independent principality),

Monte Carlo,

Mentone (the last town on the French Riviera),

-------------- RIVIERA ITALIANA -- RIVIERA LIGURE ... PONENTE

1. Ventimiglia

2. Bordighera,

3. Ospedaletti,

4. San Remo,

5. Porto Maurizio,

6. Oneglia,

7. Diano,

8. Alassio,

9. Arenzano

10. Pegli

GENOVA

LEVANTE

1. Nervi

2. Santa Margherita

3. Rapallo

4. Chiavari

5. Sestri Levante,

6. Levanto,

7. Spezia, and S

8. San Terenzo (Lerici).

A railway runs close along the shore all through the Riviera, the distance from Nizza to Genova being 116 m., and the distance from Genoa to Spezia 56 m.

In the latter stretch the line burrows through the many projecting headlands by means of more than eighty tunnels.

The pearl of the eastern Riviera is the stretch (6 to 7 m.) between Rapallo and Chiavari.

Lord Byron and Shelley both lived and wrote on the shores of the Gulf of Spezia, and Dickens wrote The Chimes at Genova.