Entry for "Italian Riviera" in 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica

By Luigi Speranza

---

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.

Ligurian Riviera

Luigi Speranza
Bordighera

The Italian Riviera, or Ligurian Riviera (Italian: "Riviera ligure") is the narrow coastal strip which lies between the Ligurian Sea and the mountain chain formed by the Maritime Alps and the Apennines.

Longitudinally it extends from the border with France and the French Riviera (or Côte d'Azur) near Ventimiglia (a former customs post) to Capo Corvo (also known as Punta Bianca) which marks the eastern end of the Gulf of La Spezia and is close to the border with Tuscany.

The Italian Riviera thus includes nearly all of the coastline of Liguria. (Historically it extended further to the west, through what is now French territory as far as Monaco.)

The Riviera is centred by Genova, which divides it into two main sections:

--- the Riviera di Ponente (“the coast of the setting sun”), extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and

-- the Riviera di Levante (“the coast of the rising sun”) between Genova and Capo Corvo.

It is famous for its particularly mild climate which, together with the charm of its old fishing ports and the beauty of its landscape, has made it a popular destination for travellers and tourists since the time of Byron and Shelley.

Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as

Portofin,
Bordighera,
Lerici, and
the Cinque Terre.

The part of the Riviera di Ponente centred on Savona, is called the

"Riviera delle Palme".

The part centered on Sanremo, is the

"Riviera dei Fiori",

after the long-established flower growing industry.

Places on or near the Italian Riviera include -- alphabetically ordered, alas:

****** A *******

Alassio

Albenga

Albissola

Ameglia

Andora

Arenzano

Arma di Taggia

************ B ****************

Bajardo

Balestrino

Bergeggi

Bergeggi (Isola)

Bogliasco

Bonassola

Bordighera (Provincia Imperia)

Borghetto Santo Spirito

Borgio Verezzi

Bussana

Bussana Vecchia

Brugnato

************** C **************

Colletta di Castelbianco

Camogli

Campo

Campomorone

Camporosso

Capo di Noli

Capo Mele

Castelvecchio di Rocca Barbena

Celle

Ceriale

Ceriana

Cervo

Chiavari

Cicagna

Cinque Terre

Cipressa

Civezza

Corniglia

Costarainera

************* D *******************

Deiva

Diano


************* F ****************


Finale

Framura


**************** G ****************

Gallinara (Isola)

Genova (Provincia di Genova)

Genova Nervi (Provincia di Genova)

Genova Pegli

Genoa Sant'Ilario

************** I ****************

Imperia (Provincia Imperia)


************ L ***************

Laigueglia

Lavagna

Lerici

Levanto

Loano

************* M *****************

Manarola

Moneglia

Monterosso

Noli

*************** O

Ospedaletti

****************** P


Palmaria (Isola)

Pietra Ligure

Portofin

Portovenere

******************* R


Rapallo (provincia di Genova)

Recco

Riomaggiore

Riva Ligure


************************ S


San Bartolomeo

San Fruttuoso

San Lorenzo

San Rocco

Sanremo

Santo Stefano

Santa Margherita

Sarzana

Savona (provincia di Savona)

Sestri Levante

Sori

Spezia

Spotorno

***************** T

Taggia


*************** V


Vado

Vallecrosia

Varazze

Ventimiglia

Vernazza

Voltri


****************** Z


Zoagli

Zuccarello



Gulf of Genoa
Riviera (disambiguation), links to articles on other coastal areas known as "Rivieras."
[hide]v · d · e Liguria

Provinces
and places Genoa • Imperia • La Spezia • Savona
Cinque Terre • Riviera di Levante • Riviera di Ponente

Politics and
government Elections in Liguria • List of Presidents of Liguria

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Italian riviera

Luigi Speranza
Bordighera

The term, "Italian Riviera", usually refers to the Italian coastline area near the border with France, in Liguria.

This coastline is extremely beautiful due to the amazing combination of clear blue waters, soft sands, perfect weather, and a great amount of entertainments available at the area.

The Italian Riviera offers amazing beaches in which visitors can enjoy a relaxing sunbath as well as swim in crystalline waters.

These area's beaches are a perfect place for those who love beaches to visit at almost any time of the year, since the climate and its temperatures are very homogeneous most of the time.

One of the main areas of he Italian Riviera is the

"Riviera Dei Fiori". (From Cervo to Ventimiglia)

The Riviera Dei Fiori or Riviera of Flowers goes from Cervo to Ventimiglia in the west, and is the spot of the Italian Riviera which is closest to France.

This area offers several hotels, resorts and entertainment areas for tourists to choose as well as typical Italian Riviera's beautiful beaches.

Another very visited Italian Riviera's spot is the area known as

"Riviera Delle Palme": Alassio, Finale Liguria.

Riviera Delle Palme is the Italian Riviera area located at the central section of the Ligurian coastline.

This area has a historic beach resort called Alassio among many other great spots, such as Finale Liguria, and amazing beaches. Visitors who go to Riviera Delle Palme could also choose among many options related to their entertainment such as casinos, discos, bars, and spectacle centers among others.

There are several ways in which to access the area of the Italian Riviera.

One of the easiest ways to access it is by train since there is a major train line which goes all the way through the coastline.

This railway line allows tourists to travel from Naples, Florence, Milan, Rome, Genoa or other cities to the Italian Riviera's coastline, as well as allows them to enjoy its beauty from the point it begins to where it ends.

Besides this, visitors who go to the Italian Riviera can also travel to France and arrive to cities such as Monaco or Cannes within the same railway line.

Keywords: riviera, italian, italian riviera, area, beaches, coastline, among, riviera delle palme

The Italian Riviera: off he beaten track

Luigi Speranza
Bordighera

The 85 miles of Italy's coast from the French border to Genova and beyond mixes user-friendly beaches with the rugged beauty of Alpine foothills reaching inland toward the region of Piedmont, Italy's agricultural heartland.

The Italian Riviera, both Ponente and Levante, is a big draw for Italian, French, German and Swiss vacationers, so don't expect to hear much English.

A good Italian phrase book is handy if you can't fall back on another European language.

Gaming is one attraction in the faded, but still bustling small city if Sanremo.

The coast of Liguria, the region nearest France, is naturally rocky.

Most coastal towns have a free beach, but these can be pretty rugged and choked with seaweed.

Fortunately, just a few euros per day buys access to beautifully maintained private beaches, called "bagni", which truck in tons of fine sand every year.

Almost every town divides its seafront into a series of bagni (literally, "baths"), where you can rent a lounge chair with umbrella for several euros a day.

A cabana for changing and locking up possessions is usually also available for a few euros more.

Most bagni have a snack bar, which can offer everything from light refreshments to full meals.

Local trains and buses run along the coast, eliminating the need for a rental car—and an aspirin for the headache induced by the frantic local traffic.

Aside from beaches, the faded but still bustling small cities of

Sanremo

and

Imperia

give a feel for how Italy's wealthy used to live.

The "ville" they built a century or more ago dot the steep hillsides and appear in varying playful styles, pastel colors and states of repair.

From the hilltops there are dramatic views down to the sea.

Just a few miles inland, switchback mountain roads are lined with olive trees that have made the region an oil center for centuries.

Olives are now processed in modern facilities, but the history of their cultivation and use is evident in and around the compact hillside town of Dolcedo, five miles inland from Imperia.

Disused mills with decaying water wheels still cling to the banks of the narrow Prino River.

In Dolcedo, a medieval stone bridge spans a dramatic gorge, and the town is home to five chapels built in a range of architectural styles, including the baroque.

It's hard to get a bad meal on the Italian Riviera, particularly if you stick with fresh seafood.

Enjoy it with wines from the nearby hills, such as Barolo, Barbaresco and Dolcetto.

A satisfying waterfront tourist spot is

"Hobo's Pizzeria"

in Imperia (011-39-0183-64-205).

For $18, you can eat fried squid so delicate they're almost unrecognizable compared to the rubbery rings that often pass as calamari.

The seafood spaghetti and risotto, also both $18, use the same local catch as the fish of the day.

In Dolcedo,

"Casa Della Rocca" (011-39-0183-280-138) features live music and seasonal food of the region, including a mixed grill with frogs from the Prino River. Fixed-price menus range from $21 to $49.

And since no Italian vacation would be complete without dolci, visit the stately Balzola bakery and café (011-39-0182-640-209) in Alassio for baci, or "kisses." These chocolate-meringue and hazelnut-cream cookies are addictive.

Where to Stay.

Alassio is the region's toniest beach town.

The understatedly elegant

"Hotel Ligure",

in the middle of town, faces Alassio's boardwalk and has its own beach access (011-39-0182-640-653). A room for two facing the town starts at $278 per night, while a suite with sea view runs at about $557 per night in the high season. The hotel's Solaria Spa offers a brine bath.

In Imperia, the Miramare (011-39-0183-667-120) is a 19th-century villa uphill from the waterfront that has been converted into serviced apartments.

A suite with small kitchen starts at about $209 per night.

The coastline train station is one minute away, which is convenient but can be a bit noisy.

Portofin

Luigi Speranza

Portofin and the other charming villages of the Tigullio region have always attracted artists, intellectuals, the nobility, sovereigns and simple travellers, for the peace and tranquillity of the bay, the striking landscape and the environment.

A host of illustrious names have fallen for the climate and the beauties of the Gulf of Tigullio, from

Nietzsche to
Hesse,
Wagner,
Kandinsky,
Freud,
Hemingway,
Eleonora Duse and
D'Annunzio.

Guy de Maupassant used to moor his yacht, the Bel Ami, in the marina.

Since the 1950s, Portofino has been the symbol of the Dolce Vita, an exclusive and elegant arena in which to meet stars from show business, great names from the fashion industry and the international economic elite.

The Sweet Life can be seen among the boutiques of the historical centre, the bars in the famous

"Piazzetta",

the restaurants of

"Calata Marconi" or the yachts moored to the

"Umberto Primo" Wharf,

with paparazzi always on the lookout for a scoop.

The end the night in style, stop off at

"Covo di Nordest in Paraggi",

which for years has been the Riviera's favourite nightclub.

Rapallo and Santa Margherita live an intense life around their tourist ports:
entertainment, folklore and sport, particularly sailing.

The atmosphere is the refined, trendy mood of the tourist elite.

Classical music concerts, antiques fairs, parties, and a wealth of nightspots and restaurants where you can relish the flavour of local prawns, one of the many marine specialities of the area.

Rapallo regularly organises cultural events, and has a famous 18-hole golf course bordering the ruins of an ancient 13th century monastery.

Chiavari and Sestri Levante are other localities on the Ligurian Riviera whose nightlife may not rival Portofino or Santa Margherita, but which is certainly not to be missed.

Piscina dei Castelli, in the marina of Sestri Levante, is a nightclub famous for its pulsing nightlife, visited by night owls from all over northern Italy.

Not far from here, in Riva Trigoso is the popular Bunker Bar, where people go to dance the night away on the beach.

PONENTE

Luigi Speranza

This itinerary takes you southwest to explore the Riviera della Palme, a long coastline measuring over 100 kilometers, extending west from Genova out to Alassio.

For several decades, this tract of coastline has been a tourist center for sunbathing and swimming.

The consistently mild climate makes it enjoyable to visit this area even out of season, thereby avoiding the summer crowds.

How to get there.

All the cities along the Riviera are easily reachable by train from Genova, or by car by way of the highway A10 Genova-Ventimiglia.

However, the best way to get there is by taking the SP 1 coastal road, where you can enjoy the tranquil panorama of the coastline.

This itinerary requires at least two days.

There are a great number of hotels on the Riviera delle Palme, from 4-star hotels to family-owned pensions, but if you want something different, there is also an excellent selection of bed and breakfasts on the Riviera delle Palme.

For those who wish to stay a bit longer, one excellent idea is to rent an apartment in one of the residences of Riviera delle Palme.

Albissola

This is a fashionable sunbathing and swimming spot, but it is also famous for its traditional production of polychrome ceramics.

Take a walk along the

"Lungomare degli Artisti",

paved with a ceramic-tile mosaic, then take a peek at the artisanal shops scattered among the alleyways of the old town,

"Albissola Superiore".

You can also visit the

"Villa Gavotti",

a sumptuous noble residence surrounded by a beautiful garden.

Bergeggi

This little place is set within one of the most beautiful sections of the Riviera delle Palme.

Year after year, Bergeggi has earned the European Blue Flag award for the quality of its beaches.

Between Bergeggi and Spotorno extends the Bergeggi natural reserve: the cliffs open up to lovely little beaches, surrounded by Mediterranean scrub.

Noli

A marine town of ancient origins, Noli contains a marvelous historic city center, surrounded by walls and dominated by castle ruins.

A walk through the town is a delight for the eyes.

Alleyways, arcades, lively little piazzas, medieval houses and the famous tower houses.

At one time there were 82 tower houses; today only 8 remain.

Varigotti

This picturesque town faces onto the Baia dei Saraceni.

Immediately eye-catching are its red, yellow, and ochre colored-houses along the beach.

Its alleyways inspired the stories of Hemingway and Cesare Pavese.

Here the sea is one of the most beautiful along the Riviera.

Finale Ligure

This city was formed from the union of three towns:

a--Pia,
b--Maria, and
c--Borgo.

Finalmarina is a popular sunbathing and swimming area with a lovely 18th century historic center.

Final Borgo, which is located closer inland, has preserved intact the look of the medieval town.

Entering the walls of the city opens up a world of palazzos and antique churches; be sure to visit the beautiful Chiesa di San Biagio and the former convent of Saint Caterina, today a city museum.

Pietra Ligure

Pietra Ligure has one of the most lovely paths to the sea in the Liguria, as well as modern bathing establishments. Behind the beach, Pietra hides an ancient city center with a medieval section -- Borgo Vecchio -- and a renaissance section -- Borgo Nuovo, with an airy and elegant look. Along the seashore are the antique naval shipyards, still in use today.

Not far from here, rising into the valley from Borghetto S. Spirito, is Tirano, where you can find the complex of the Grotte di Toirano.

These are considered to be among the ten most beautiful grottos in Italy.

Albenga

The "city of towers" is the most important historic city center in the entire Riviera di Ponente.

In its historic center, where you can see the characteristic plan of the Roman castrum, there are numerous monuments of the Medieval and Renaissance eras. The Piazza San Michele is a fabulous concentration of civil and religious architecture. Don't forget to visit the Romanesque Cathedral and the Paleo-Christian baptistry.
Albenga also offers several interesting museums: located in the Palazzo Peloso-Cepolla is the Roman Ship Museum where you can find the remains of the biggest Roman ship ever uncovered (60 meters in length).

Laigueglia

The itinerary concludes shortly after Alassio with a little secret: Laigueglia.

This is an ancient marine town surrounded by an amphitheatre of lovely hills sloping toward the sea. This is one of the most poetic places on the Riviera della Palme for its location and design. At the end of June, Laigueglia hosts and important jazz and percussion festival: Laigueglia Jazz & PercFest.

PONENTE

Luigi Speranza
Bordighera

Tourist arriving in the Riviera dei Fiori have a hard time making up their mind.

Should they seek out beaches, sun and surf?

Or coastal towns bustling both day and night?

They are right here.

Or perhaps the mountains, refreshing hikes in the woods, and fresh air?

Or medieval villages nestled on the slopes with towers, historical dwelling and old churches?

They are here too.

And then the old-fashioned cooking with garden vegetables and freshly caught fish.

The famous extra virgin olive oil and special wines Riviera is a mountain diving into the sea.

From Cape

"Cervo"

to the French border, it includes important towns like

"Imperia",
"Sanremo",
"Ventimiglia",
"Bordighera".

The coast, with its mild and sunny climate, is a continuous series of bays, ports and coves.

Inland, the conformation of the land gives rise to a variation in the climatic conditions, so much so that above 500-770m, the climate is decidedly a mountain climate. Such differences affect the rainfall, the vegetation, the landscapes and consequently the possibility of developing the area for tourism.

As a counterpoint to the noisy vivaciousness of the coast, on a hill smoothly sloping down towards the sea, we find

"Cervo".

The scenic and majestic parish church of San Giovanni Battista dominates the village. It is one of the most important examples of Baroque architecture in Liguria. This church turns into a magnificent background for the concerts of the Festival Internazionale di Musica da Camera, which takes place on its splendid parvis during the summer.

"San Bartolomeo"

San Bartolomeo al Mare is undoubtedly one of the most equipped tourism centers. Originated by the merger of the two small medieval nuclei of San Bartolomeo and Rovere, very lively during the summer months thanks to its comfortable hotels, residences and camping, the town owes its fame to the sanctuary of the Madonna della Rovere, where on its parvis, during the summer, the very renowned Concorso Internazionale di Esecuzione Vocale e Strumentale per Giovani Talenti takes place.

A shore of intense beauty, sandy beaches surrounded by a vegetation in between the exotic and Mediterranean, palm trees, agaves, maritime pines, olive trees, citrus orchards, this is the

"Gulf of Diano",

a large inlet between cape "Berta" and cape "Cervo".

At the mouth of the stream "Impero", on a small flatland, there is

"Oneglia",

the site of important industries in the field of the Mediterranean diet.

The most attractive part of the city is the one that extends on the slopes of cape Berta, a promontory in the sea that hides the

"Casa Rossa"

(Red House), formerly the residence of the poet

Angiolo Silvio Novaro, in a vegetation of palm, cypress and olive trees.

Located in a magnificient position,

"Imperia"

owes its name to the river Impero, that separates Oneglia from

"Porto Maurizio",

which once were rival villages but are today merged in a sole municipality.

"Porto Maurizio", clung to the Parasio promontory, already in the Middle Ages a vital economic and trade center, owned by the Benedectine monks, wa in the past a free commune.

Oneglia, instead, founded after the year 1000, feud of the bishop of Albenga, subsequently sold to the Genovese family of the Dorias, in 1576 was assigned to the Savoias.

Through the centuries, the rivalry between these two centers was expressed through a highly commercial competition, the rights of feud between the families, the different administrative organization, due to the loyalty of Porto Maurizio to the Genoese and Oneglia to the Savoias.

At the month of the stream, wherefrom its name derived, lies the coastal village of

"San Lorenzo" -- relaxing oasis of tranquillity.

The beach and the eastern and western historical centers (completely restored and closed to the traffic) characterize a typical bathing and seafaring vacation.

From the historical center a suggestive promenade at a sheer drop to the sea leads as far as the bordering town of

"Santo Stefano".

"Sanremo" lies in the middle of the Riviera dei Fiori.

Its name was originally

"Matuzia", "gift of Matuta", a godness of the sea.

In fact, the climate is divine. The flowers know it. You've never seen so many and so beautiful ones in the gardens, on terraces, in greenhouses, along the streets.

The tourists who love this vacation capital know it - a place that was already famous at the end of the 1800s when it was discovered by Russian princesses, English barons, musicians like Ciakovsky, scientists like Alfred Nobel and so on.

Its flowers are famous all over Europe and every year, they decorate the marvellous Grosser Musikvereinsaal of the Musikverein in Wien for New Year Concert.

Furthermore, in Italy, San Remo is famous because, in February, it presents the Italian Song Festival.

The famous Casino dates back to 1905 where interesting conferences can take place too.

To the north of San Remo, on the hills overlooking the Nervia Valley, lies Pigna.

Here you can visit the beautiful Church of San Michele (XIIth -XVth Centuries), the Romanic Church of San Bernardo with "the Last Judgment" by Canavesio, etc.

Other important towns of the Riviera are

"Ospedaletti",
"Bordighera" and
"Ventimiglia".

Not far from Ventimiglia, at Cape "Mortola", are located the Harbury Botanic Gardens.

******************** Sir Thomas Hanbury, 1867 *************

They were created in 1867 when Sir Thomas Hanbury, holidaying on the Cote d'Azur, was struck by the beauty of Cape Mortola, near Ventimiglia, and began to purchase, piece by piece, part of the land which later amounted to eighteen hectares.

Sir Thomas, who was very rich, had travelled particularly in the Far East and thought of transforming this small area into a complex to receive exotic plants from diverse countries, aided by his brother Daniel, a pharmacologist who came from England for this purpose.