Castles in the city of empire italy. Looking for deals in Imperia? Empire on the map

The provincial capital of Liguria, on the coast of the Riviera dei Fiori. The city was formed in 1923, after the dictator Mussolini united two towns - Porto Maurizo and Oneglia. The city owes its name to the name of the Impero River, which separates the two city centers.

Name Oneglia comes from a plantation of elms (olmi), on which this town appeared. The first documentary evidence of the city of Oneglia dates back to 935 and it mentions that Oneglia was badly destroyed after one of the Saracen raids. Since the 11th century, the city belonged to the Bishops of Albenga, and in 1298 it was sold to the Doria family.

After family Doria the city was owned by the Savoy dynasty, and in 1746 Oneglia passed into the possession of Genoa. After the Napoleonic wars, Oneglia again went to the Savoy dynasty, which made the city in 1814 the capital of the province.

Sights of the city of Imperia

East of the mouth of the Impero River is Empire port, which appeared in the city during the reign of the Savoy dynasty. This port is intended mainly for merchant ships. The port of Porto Maurizio has a completely different purpose - it serves as a parking lot for yachts and pleasure boats.

The main square of the city is piazza dante, surrounded by luxurious neo-medieval palaces. The main shopping street of the city is Via Bonfante, where the main shops of the Empire are located, as well as cozy cafes.

An interesting monument in the Empire is Parasio or residence of the Genoese ruler. The ruler's palace is built on top of a hill, in Piazza Chiesa Vecchia, which is located in the heart of the medieval area.

Also, while in Empire, you should see the church of San Pietro, the monastery of Santa Chiara and the chapel of Oratorio di San Leonardo, and on Via Aquarona visit the Pagliari Palace, the entrance portico of which is decorated with lancet arches.

Duomo of the Empire

Cathedral The city is the largest in Liguria. The cathedral was built in 1781 - 1838 by the architect Gaetano Cantoni on the site of the destroyed church of San Maurizio. The facade of the cathedral is decorated with eight Doric columns, and its dome is crowned with a lantern. Inside the cathedral, you can see a magnificent collection of 19th century paintings and neoclassical frescoes created by artists from Liguria and Piedmont. The real gem of the cathedral is the painting “The Prediction of St. Francesco”.

Not far from the Cathedral, on Piazza Duomo, there is also the entrance to Pinakothek Civica, city art gallery. In it, along with the works of classical masters of painting, exhibitions of contemporary artists are also arranged.

Empire on the map

Useful information for tourists about the Empire in Italy - geographical position, tourism infrastructure, map, architectural features and attractions.

Imperia is the capital of the province of the same name in Italian region Liguria. The city is located on the territory of the so-called Riviera dei Fiori - the Flower Coast, not far from popular resort San Remo.

Imperia is one of the youngest cities in Italy. It was formed in 1923 by combining the ancient communes - Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, lying on both banks of the Impero River, and several other villages. Your name new town received the name of the same river.

Each of the regions of the Empire has its own, ancient history. Porto Maurizio in the era of Ancient Rome was known as Portus Maurici, and Oneglia was the possession of the Bishops of Albenga since the 12th century. In 1298, the huge castle, which stood on the seashore of Oneglia, was bought by the noble Genoese family of Doria. It was in this castle that the famous general Andrea Doria was born in the 15th century. In the 16th century, Oneglia became the property of the Savoy dynasty, which for several centuries defended it from attacks by the Genoese, Spaniards and French. As for Porto Maurizio, in the 6th century the city became part of the Byzantine Empire, then it was alternately ruled by Benedictine monks, Turin counts and Genoese, and in the 19th century its lands were transferred to the Kingdom of Sardinia. Only in 1861, both settlements became part of the united Italy.

Today Empire is a popular tourist town, which also grows olives and luxurious flowers. One of the best centers in Italy is located here. aquatic species sport "Piscina Felice Cascione", which hosts national and international competitions. A city protected from the cold northern winds mountain range, attracts tourists with a mild climate, well-equipped beaches and clear sea.

Despite the fact that the Empire as a single city has existed for only about a hundred years, numerous cultural and architectural monuments have been preserved in its ancient quarters. So, in Porto Maurizio, first of all, it is worth seeing the classic Cathedral The 18th century San Maurizio is the largest in Liguria. This quarter is generally considered more colorful and rich in sights and attracts tourists with its atmospheric winding streets "carrugia". The local port serves as a parking lot for pleasure boats and luxury yachts, and on the large port square Piazza Roma Maurizio stands a bronze monument to Giuseppe Garibaldi. Noteworthy is the historic center of the city - Parasio, the monastery of Santa Chiara of the 14th century and the small Ship Museum.

Oneglia is more spacious and is surrounded by hills covered with olive groves. Her main square, Piazza Dante, serves as the starting point for all roads in the city. Of the local attractions, it is worth highlighting the Palazzo dei Doria, the extraordinary Villa Groca, which belonged to the famous Swiss clown, Piazza Doria with its colorful markets and the promenade, interesting Museum olives, an 18th-century fresco in Piazza San Giovanni and the 18th-century baroque church of San Giovanni Battista. At the eastern end of Oneglia, fragments of the 17th century city walls, built during the reign of the Savoy dynasty, can still be seen. And nearby is the Annunziata church with a neoclassical façade and the 18th-century Skolopi complex. The final part of the tour can be a walk along the alley of African palms, which ends with a pier - it offers a wonderful view of the bay and mountains.

Another area of ​​the Empire - Montegrazie - is notable for the church of Santa Maria Maggiore and the temple of Nostra Signora delle Grazie. And if you wish, you can go on an excursion from the Empire to the neighboring Principality of Monaco, to the Cote d'Azur of France or to Turin, the first capital of united Italy.

On this page:   Attractions and interesting places, convenient location, best hotels for property buyers...

Features:   Resort where you can buy an apartment on the beach...

Coastal city (and commune) Empire- the fourth largest in all of Liguria (population about 43 thousand people). It was he who gave his name to one of the four Ligurian provinces.

This area is known for growing flowers and olives (no wonder this whole part of the coast is called the Riviera dei Fiori - the Riviera of Flowers). A significant part of the income of the local population is services for tourists. In addition, there are two ports - one for ordinary ships, and the second (Porto Maurizio) - a large marina for yachts. Among yachtsmen, this place is quite famous - once every two years at the end of summer, the Vele d "Epocha regatta for sailing retro and rare yachts is held here.

In fact, these are two towns located on two sides of the river with the same name - Imperia. Their historical names are Porto Maurizo and Oneglia (unification took place in 1923 at the request of the dictator Mussolini).

The older Oneglia (village with elms) was first mentioned in the chronicles in the middle of the 10th century - then it was badly damaged by the Saracens who landed here.

This city can be called a resort with a stretch, but as one of the tourist and sightseeing holiday- He is very attractive. There are many beautiful places in this area sandy beaches. In the city itself, there is something to see from the sights, not to mention the simple flavor of Italian life. There are very good trattoria restaurants and a lot of hotels. It is especially good here in spring, when everything is in bloom. Marine boulevard is about 3 km long. - a great place for walking - connects the city with the resort of Diano Marina.

For property buyers

These places are quite popular with European property buyers - those who purchase residential property in order to live here. Among such people, the most famous Swiss Grock, who was called the king of clowns. You can come here on vacation, but you can choose this city as a permanent place of residence. In this case, the fact that it is relatively large, and not a small village, is only a plus. Local real estate agencies like to say: "Those who buy a house or apartment here will live in a resort. And those who come on vacation will have access to all the benefits of Italian civilization."

Attractions and interesting places

The Cathedral of San Maurizio is the largest church in all of Liguria (more than 3,000 sq.m.). It contains valuable frescoes and paintings from the 19th century.
- The old part of the city with the palace of the ruler - quite interesting place for walks. It has its own special name - Parasio (Parasio). - Monastery of Santa Clara (Convent of Santa Chiara) / Exists since 1365.
- A very interesting and famous building - Villa Grock in the form of a castle, which was built for himself by a famous Swiss artist.
- Church of San Giovanni Battista.
- Church of Santa Maria Maggiore.
- Shrine of Nostra Signora delle Grazie.
- The local indoor swimming pool (Piscina Felice Cascione) is known far beyond the province due to various competitions, including international ones.
- You can visit the small Maritime Museum.
- There is a museum of olive trees.
- There is an art gallery - Pinacoteca Chivika.

Convenient location

This Italian town is located approximately halfway between Genoa and French Nice, a little closer to the latter. Holidays in the Empire provide an opportunity to visit others without any problems. interesting cities Italian Riviera, as well as the Cote d'Azur of France. All this within an hour or two of the road by car or train.

Getting here for tourists is also not difficult. The nearest airports are Genoa and Nice.

The best hotels in Imperia:

Hotel Rossini al Teatro
- Hotel Croce di Malta
- Hotel Miramare
- Hotel Corallo
- Christina
- Locanda del Mar
- Hotel Italy
- Hotel Ariston

Anton also lived.

    8,0

    Quiet typical Italian town, good sea.

    Quiet typical Italian town, good sea. There are sandy and rocky beaches. The air is good, but it was expensive for us to eat.

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    Svetlana Moldova

    Quite a friendly Italian town.

    Quite a friendly Italian town. The sea is clean, a good choice of both paid and free beaches. There are comfortable backwaters for swimming for small children. The city center is quite beautiful, shopping is not very rich, but it is available. There are few Russians among vacationers; in general, the local population prevails on the beaches. If you travel by car, the city is very convenient to visit. Cote d'Azur France. The road to Nice or Monaco will take about an hour.

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    Alexander Russia

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    In summer - sandy and pebble beaches.

    In summer - sandy and pebble beaches. And at any time of the year - a visit to the Piazza Duomo Museum of Christmas cribs, the ship's museum and the largest Catholic church on Ligurian coast. Also from this area comes hiking route around the old port area with stunning views, churches and the monastery of St. Chiara. The neighboring part of the city is famous for the very beautiful church of San Giovanni Battista, the Oliva Museum and the shopping arcade in Piazza Dante. From Imperia you can go to San Remo, Menton and Monaco.

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    Residence Villa Marina;

    Residence Villa Marina; Convenient location of the villa: close to the railway station, 10-15 minutes walk to the beach (both towards San Maurizio - sandy beach, and towards Onelia - pebble beaches), a bus stop in the direction of Onelia right outside the gates of the villa, to the very close supermarket Carrefour in Onelia on foot for about 15 minutes (after the main post office and the administrative building, turn left down, dive into the passage under the railway tracks and then straight ahead, at the first intersection take to the left and there is Carrefour). Green area, garden and tennis court, parking at the hotel, excellent swimming pool for adults and children. Comfortable rooms, in the room: gas stove, 2 refrigerators, air conditioning, TV, hair dryer, various utensils, kitchen utensils in sufficient quantity. From the balcony there is a stunning view of the sea and the bay with yachts. The photos on the site are fully consistent with what they really are. The Internet worked quickly, WiFi could be used even near the pool.

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The city of Imperia, sometimes called the “double city”, is not even a hundred years old, it appeared in 1923 as a result of the merger of the neighboring towns of Oneglia (Oneglia) and Porto Maurizio (Porto Maurizio), which are currently the two main regions of the Empire .

Information

Empire (Imperia) - a city with a population of 42,000 inhabitants and an area of ​​46 sq. km, the capital of the province of the same name. Empire City is located on west coast known as the Riviera dei Fiori (Coast of Flowers). The province of Imperia borders on France in the west, on the north, and on the east with the province of Savona.

Panorama of the Empire. flickr photo.com

The name of the city comes from the river Imperia, which divides it in two.

Oneglia, located on the east side of the river, is the more modern part of the city. Oneglia is the industrial center of the Empire, specializing in the production of olive oil, which has been made here since the 12th century, and pasta.

Embankment of Oneglia. flickr photo.com

Porto Maurizio, with its historic center, narrow streets and ancient buildings, is located on the west coast of the Imperia River, and the main occupations of the population of this part of the city are fishing and the tourism industry.

Beach in Porto Maurizio. A photowikipedia. org

History of the Empire

On October 21, 1923, Victor Emanuel III officially approved the formation of the new city of Imperia by his royal decree. The text of this decree can still be seen today on a large fresco in the hall of the municipality.

Since the inhabitants of both settlements, located at a distance of three kilometers from each other, did not express a great desire for unification and neither of the towns wanted to be the seat of city government, it was decided to place the municipality between them, about halfway between Onelia and Porto Maurizio. Since then, a feature of the Empire is that the administrative center of the city is essentially on the outskirts, away from the two main urban areas and approximately in the same place where Oneglia and Porto Maurizio sorted out relations with each other for many years, including with the help of weapons. The decree from above forced the previously warring towns to seek ways of reconciliation and learn to jointly manage the Empire. A plan was even developed for the construction of a large commercial and tourist port, which would unite both areas, and a plan for the construction of a central station, from where trains would depart to.

During the Second World War, the city was repeatedly bombed, and in May 1945, the Empire was occupied by French troops for about a month.

In the post-war years, the city was chaotically built up, in the 70s, between Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, a long promenade named after Amerigo Vespucci was built, which locals dubbed the "superstroke". The city began to develop actively in tourist destination, it was again decided to return to the construction of a tourist port, which was inaugurated in 2009.

Tourist port. Photo flickr.com

Landmarks of the Empire

Cathedral of Saint Mauritius(Basilica di San Maurizio) is located in Porto Maurizio, it is the largest Catholic church in all of Liguria, its height is 48 meters and its area is about 3000 sq.m. The cathedral was built in 1781-1838 in the neoclassical style, designed by the architect Gaetano Cantoni. Its interior decoration is made up of sculptures and paintings by masters of the second half of XIX century.

The cathedralsaintMauritius.Photo flickr.com

International Maritime Museum(Museo Navale Internazionale) is located next to the Cathedral of San Maurizio in Porto Maurizio, he appeared in the Empire in the 80s of the last century. Over the thirty years of its existence, the museum has gathered a rich collection of documents related to commercial and military maritime history, from the 18th century to the present day. There are also exhibits reflecting the history of wooden shipbuilding, cartography and ship tools.

Outside the ancient fortress wall of Porto Maurizio, you can see the medieval churchKnights of Malta(Cappella dei Cavalieri di Malta), built back in 1362 as a haven for the knights of the Order of Malta. In 1365 Petrarch stopped here on his way back from Avignon. This building is considered the oldest in Porto Maurizio.

Church of the Knights of Malta. panoramio photo.com

CCathedral of Saint John the Baptist(Collegiata di San Giovanni), built in the 18th century in the Baroque style, is located in the very center of Oneglia and is the main church of this part of the Empire. The cathedral is decorated with numerous frescoes and colored stained-glass windows.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. A photoflickr. com

Villa Grock(Villa Grock) and the beautiful garden surrounding it are located in Oneglia. The famous Swiss clown of the early 20th century Grock (real name - Charles Adrien Vettat) visited these places in 1920 and was so fascinated by them that he decided to build a “White Villa” here and, being passionate about plants, plant a park. The villa and park were restored in 2006 and opened to the public in 2010. Since 2012, Villa Grock has been the location of the Clown Museum.

Villa Grock. A photovisitrivieradeifiori.it

Olive Oil Museum(Museo dell'olivo) was founded by the Carly family, who in 1911 created the Carly Brothers olive oil business. Initially, it was a collection dedicated to the century-old activity of this enterprise; at present, the museum contains exhibits that tell about the 6000-year history of olive cultivation and olive oil production.

One of the exhibits of the Olive Oil Museum. A photovisitrivieradeifiori.it

What to try in Empire

To list some of the typical dishes of the Empire: "sardinaria" (pizza with tomato sauce, onions, sardines, origano, capers, olives and garlic); "farinata" from chickpeas (pie made from chickpea flour with onions); cod with potatoes and onions; "green pie" (vegetable casserole with chard, artichokes, green peas, with rice or eggs); pesto, traditional for the whole of Liguria (a sauce based on basil, olive oil, parmesan, garlic and pine nuts.

Of the cheeses, it is worth noting the soft cow's milk cheese "Alpeggio di Triora".

Those with a sweet tooth will appreciate the traditional local dish "Stroscia di Pietrabruna" - a crumbly pie with lemon and herb flavors and a characteristic taste of olive oil.

SweetStoscia di Pietrabruna cake.Photo giallozafferano.it

Among the local wines, you should pay attention to Pigato, Vermentino, Ormeasco, Rossese di Dolceacqua.

Wine Rossese di Dolceacqua DOC.A photocookiearound.com

Imperia is famous for its olive oil, as well as spaghetti, which have been produced in Oneglia, at the Pasta Agnesi plant since 1824.

How to get to Empire

By car - from Genoa or France along the Aurelia highway (SS-1).

By train. The Empire has two railway stations- in Oneglia and Porto Maurizio.

By plane. From the Empire to the airport of Genoa - 120 km, to the airport of Nice (France) - 150 km.