Liguria

Portovenere

Liguria, the third smallest of the regioni of Italy, bordering the Ligurian Sea, in the northwestern part of the country. It comprises the provincie of Genoa, Imperia, La Spezia, and Savona.

Shaped like a crescent reaching from the mouth of the Roia River to that of the Magra and from the French frontier to Tuscany, Liguria is dominated by the Maritime Alps as far as the Cadibona Pass and by the Ligurian Apennines east of that point. The narrow, picturesquely indented coastal fringe, the Italian Riviera, is customarily divided into a western section, the Ponente Riviera, and an eastern section, the Levante Riviera, the point of division being the apex of the Ligurian arc at Voltri, near Genoa. Most of the population is concentrated within this coastal area.

The region, which derived its name from the Ligurians, its pre-Roman inhabitants, came under the domination of Rome in the 1st century bc. After brief Lombard and Frankish rule, the city of Genoa began to emerge as a leading power as early as the 11th century ad. By 1400 the city had gained control of the entire region and become one of the principal maritime and commercial powers of Europe. Despite numerous conflicts with its competitors, especially Venice, Genoa kept its independence until 1796, when it was seized by Napoleon Bonaparte for France. The Congress of Vienna (1815) gave Liguria to the kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. Liguria played a leading part in the Risorgimento (movement for Italian independence) and contributed significantly to the union of Italy in 1860. Genoa became the major port of the new unified Italy, rivaling Marseille in France.

Because of the shelter from winter winds afforded by the mountains, Liguria is particularly favoured in growing early vegetables, flowers (especially in the western section), olives, and wine grapes, and its mild climate draws an active tourist trade in the numerous coastal resorts.

Industries are concentrated in and around Genoa (the regional and provincial capital), around Savona, and along the shores of the Gulf of La Spezia. At Genoa and La Spezia are Italy’s leading shipyards; La Spezia is Italy’s major naval base, and Savona is a major centre of the Italian iron industry. Chemical, textile, and food industries are also important. Area 2,092 square miles (5,418 square km). Pop. (1991) 1,701,788; (2000 est.) 1,625,870.