# Imperia

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For other uses, see [Imperia (disambiguation)](/source/Imperia_(disambiguation)).

Comune in Liguria, Italy

Imperia Inpêia (Ligurian) Comune Città di Imperia Panorama of Imperia Flag Coat of arms Imperia Location of Imperia in Italy Show map of Italy Imperia Imperia (Liguria) Show map of Liguria Coordinates: 43°53′N 8°2′E / 43.883°N 8.033°E / 43.883; 8.033 Country Italy Region Liguria Province Imperia (IM) Frazioni Artallo, Borgo d'Oneglia, Cantalupo, Caramagna, Castelvecchio, Clavi, Costa d'Oneglia, Massabovi, Moltedo, Montegrazie, Oliveto, Piani, Poggi, Sant'Agata Government • Mayor Claudio Scajola Area [1] • Total 45.95 km2 (17.74 sq mi) Elevation 10 m (33 ft) Population (31 August 2017)[2] • Total 42,328 • Density 921.2/km2 (2,386/sq mi) Demonym Imperiesi Time zone UTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST) Postal code 18100 Dialing code 0183 Patron saint Leonard of Port Maurice, Saint John (Oneglia) Saint day 26 November Website Official website

**Imperia** (pronounced [\[imˈpɛːrja\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Italian) [ⓘ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:It-Imperia.ogg); [Ligurian](/source/Ligurian_language): *Inpêia* [\[iŋˈpeːja\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Ligurian) or *Inpéria*) is a coastal city and *[comune](/source/Comune)* in the [region](/source/Regions_of_Italy) of [Liguria](/source/Liguria), Italy. It is the capital of the [Province of Imperia](/source/Province_of_Imperia), and historically it was capital of the *Intemelia* district of [Liguria](/source/Liguria). [Benito Mussolini](/source/Benito_Mussolini) created the city of Imperia on 21 October 1923 by combining Porto Maurizio and [Oneglia](/source/Oneglia), as well as the surrounding village communes of Piani, Caramagna Ligure, Castelvecchio di Santa Maria Maggiore, Borgo Sant'Agata, Costa d'Oneglia, Poggi, Torrazza, Moltedo and Montegrazie.

Imperia is well known for the [cultivation of flowers](/source/Floriculture) and [olives](/source/Olive), and is a popular summer destination for visitors. The local Piscina Felice Cascione indoor pool has hosted numerous national and international [aquatics](/source/Aquatic_sports) events.

## History

A representation of Porto Maurizio in the early 1800s

The name of Oneglia may have its roots in the pre-Roman settlement of *Pagus Unelia*, on the hill of Castelvecchio, which was probably one of the *sex oppida* of the [Liguri](/source/Liguri). This spawned *Ripa Uneliae*, a village down on the coast probably on the site of the modern-day *Borgo Peri*. Modern Oneglia became established on its modern site around 935AD, possibly after it was destroyed by the [Saracens](/source/Saracens); in 1100 it became a [fief](/source/Fief) of the [Diocese of Albenga](/source/Diocese_of_Albenga). In 1298 Oneglia became part of the fiefdom of the [Doria](/source/Doria_(family)) family of Genoa; the famous admiral [Andrea Doria](/source/Andrea_Doria) (1466–1560) was born in the town. The Dorias sold the town to [Emmanuel Philibert, Duke of Savoy](/source/Emmanuel_Philibert%2C_Duke_of_Savoy) in 1576, and Oneglia essentially remained a Savoyard enclave in the [Republic of Genoa](/source/Republic_of_Genoa) until Italian unification. Nonetheless, it was on the front line in the wars of the House of Savoy; it was seized in 1614 and 1649 by the Spaniards and in 1623 and 1672 by the Genoese.[3] In 1692 it had to repulse an attack by a French squadron; in 1744–45 it was again occupied by the Spaniards, and in 1792 bombarded and burned by the French.[3]

Porto Maurizio was a Roman settlement, *Portus Maurici*, which, though named in the brief maritime itinerary appended to the [Antonine Itinerary](/source/Antonine_Itinerary),[4] must be an interpolation in manuscripts of that third century document, since it is named after [Saint Maurice](/source/Saint_Maurice), leader of the [Theban Legion](/source/Theban_Legion) who were not martyred until 286 and could not have been memorialized until the Christianized Empire of the fourth century.[5] It became a Byzantine port after the Gothic Wars of the 6th century, then passed to the [Order of Saint Benedict](/source/Order_of_Saint_Benedict). It was subject to the [counts of Turin](/source/March_of_Turin) in the 11th century, and then to the marchesi of [Clavesana](/source/Clavesana). Boniface of Clavesana sold the town to the [Republic of Genoa](/source/Republic_of_Genoa) in 1288[6] in return for a yearly payment,[3] as part of Genoa's expansion into western Liguria. In 1354 it became the seat of the Genoese vicar of the western Riviera.[3] The town prospered even though control of Genoa passed between the French, the [Duchy of Milan](/source/Duchy_of_Milan), and the Spanish. During the Napoleonic Wars Napoleon Bonaparte himself stopped for a night in Porto Maurizio and spent the night on the Parrasio on the third floor of Palazzo Lavagna. At the [Congress of Vienna](/source/Congress_of_Vienna) in 1815, it was awarded to the [Kingdom of Sardinia](/source/Kingdom_of_Sardinia), before finally joining a united Italy in 1861.

Mussolini created the city of Imperia on 21 October 1923 by the union of Porto Maurizio and Oneglia and the surrounding village communes of Piani, Caramagna Ligure, Castelvecchio di Santa Maria Maggiore, Borgo Sant'Agata, Costa d'Oneglia, Poggi, Torrazza, Moltedo and Montegrazie.

## Economy

The economy of Imperia is based on tourism, food industry (olive oil and pasta), a specialized agriculture (olive groves and flowers in greenhouses) and on trading and harbour activities. The seaside tourism represents an important aspect of the economy of Imperia.

## Geography

Imperia consists of the two historical districts of Porto Maurizio and [Oneglia](/source/Oneglia), which lie on either side of the River [Impero](/source/Impero_(river)) that gives its name to the city.

Porto Maurizio is situated on a peninsula to the west of the river, stretching along the coastline. It is the wealthiest and most colorful district of the city, threaded by narrow lanes known as *carrugi*, and its economy centers on the tourist industry. It was a possession of [Genoa](/source/Genoa) from the 13th century.

Oneglia (*Inéja* in Ligurian) lies on an alluvial plain to the east of the Impero, and with its working port is the most modern and industrialized of the two districts. At its centre lies Dante Square, from which radiate some of the main roads of the city.

### Climate

Imperia experiences a [Mediterranean climate](/source/Mediterranean_climate) ([Köppen climate classification](/source/K%C3%B6ppen_climate_classification) *Csa*).

Climate data for Imperia (1981–2010) Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 12.8 (55.0) 12.8 (55.0) 14.7 (58.5) 16.6 (61.9) 20.5 (68.9) 23.8 (74.8) 26.7 (80.1) 27.2 (81.0) 24.2 (75.6) 20.6 (69.1) 16.3 (61.3) 13.8 (56.8) 19.2 (66.5) Daily mean °C (°F) 10.1 (50.2) 9.9 (49.8) 11.9 (53.4) 13.9 (57.0) 17.7 (63.9) 20.9 (69.6) 23.8 (74.8) 24.3 (75.7) 21.2 (70.2) 17.9 (64.2) 13.6 (56.5) 11.2 (52.2) 16.4 (61.5) Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 7.4 (45.3) 7.2 (45.0) 9.1 (48.4) 11.1 (52.0) 14.8 (58.6) 18.0 (64.4) 20.8 (69.4) 21.3 (70.3) 18.3 (64.9) 15.2 (59.4) 10.9 (51.6) 8.6 (47.5) 13.6 (56.4) Average precipitation mm (inches) 83 (3.3) 91 (3.6) 85 (3.3) 63 (2.5) 50 (2.0) 32 (1.3) 14 (0.6) 31 (1.2) 54 (2.1) 86 (3.4) 119 (4.7) 88 (3.5) 796 (31.5) Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm) 6 5 6 5 6 4 2 3 4 6 8 5 60 Source 1: Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale (precipitation 1951–1980)[7] Source 2: Climi e viaggi (precipitation days)[8]

## Notable sights

### Porto Maurizio

View of Porto Maurizio from the harbour of westernmost [Oneglia](/source/Oneglia)

Porto Maurizio

Cathedral San Maurizio

- *Cathedral of San Maurizio*, built between 1781 and 1832 by Gaetano Canton, the largest church in Liguria[9]

- Old Town, called *Parasio*

- Convent of *Santa Chiara*, first established in 1365, the existing structure dates from 1741

- There is a small Naval Museum in the town

### Oneglia

[Villa Grock](/source/Villa_Grock)

- *Museo dell' Olivo* (*The Museum of the Olive*)

- *[Villa Grock](/source/Villa_Grock)*, built for the clown Grock (1880–1959)

- Church of *San Giovanni Battista*, built in 1739–62.

- Calata Giovanni Battista Cuneo, a historic quay lined with restaurants

- The historic Palazzo Municipale in Piazza Danta.

### Montegrazie

- Church of *Santa Maria Maggiore*

- Shrine of *[Nostra Signora delle Grazie](/source/Nostra_Signora_delle_Grazie)*

## Transport

[*Autostrada dei Fiori* (A10)](/source/Autostrada_A10_(Italy)), crossing the valley above Oneglia

Imperia is served by the [Autostrada A10](/source/Autostrada_A10_(Italy)) motorway, also known as *L'Autostrada dei Fiori* which runs along the Ligurian coast between [Genoa](/source/Genoa) and [Ventimiglia](/source/Ventimiglia) on the French border. The road crosses the city via a series of high viaducts and mountain tunnels over the valley. Two junctions serve the city, one in the west close to Porto Maurizio, and another in the east above Oneglia. The A10 also forms part of [European route E80](/source/European_route_E80).

Bus services across the Province of Imperia are operated by the public transport body [Riviera Trasporti](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Riviera_Trasporti&action=edit&redlink=1) (RT).[10]

The [Genoa–Ventimiglia railway](/source/Genoa%E2%80%93Ventimiglia_railway) line runs through Imperia: the city is served by a central [Imperia railway station](/source/Imperia_railway_station), on a double-track route opened on 11 December 2016,[11] replacing the old narrow coastal route confined by the sea and long tunnels under the rocky coastline, and therefore built as a [single-track railway](/source/Single_track_(rail)). The old route was originally built in 1872 and closed with the opening of the new inland route; the city was served by two railway stations serving the two centres of Imperia, [Imperia Porto Maurizio](/source/Imperia_Porto_Maurizio_railway_station) and [Imperia Oneglia railway station](/source/Imperia_Oneglia_railway_station).[12]

Old and new lines of the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway

## Famous residents

Natives of Imperia:

- [Gaetano Amadeo](/source/Gaetano_Amadeo) (1824–1893), organist and composer

- [Edmondo de Amicis](/source/Edmondo_de_Amicis) (1846–1908), writer and journalist

- [Carlo Amoretti](/source/Carlo_Amoretti) (1741–1816), ecclesiastic and writer

- [Maria Amoretti](/source/Maria_Pellegrina_Amoretti) (1756–1787), lawyer

- [Pellegrino Amoretti](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pellegrino_Amoretti&action=edit&redlink=1),[3] assistant secretary to [Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor](/source/Charles_V%2C_Holy_Roman_Emperor)

- [Domingo Belgrano](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Domingo_Belgrano&action=edit&redlink=1) (1730–1795), politician

- [Luciano Berio](/source/Luciano_Berio) (1925–2003), composer

- [Andrea Doria](/source/Andrea_Doria) (1466–1560), statesman and admiral

- [Renato Dulbecco](/source/Renato_Dulbecco) (1914–2012), Italian–American virologist and [Nobel Prize](/source/Nobel_Prize) winner

- [Luca Fiuzzi](/source/Luca_Fiuzzi) (1984), football player

- [Saint Leonard of Port Maurice](/source/Leonard_of_Port_Maurice)

- [Francesco Moraldo](/source/Triora#Francesco_Moraldo_from_Creppo), "Creppo di [Triora](/source/Triora)" (1906–2001), [Righteous Among the Nations](/source/Righteous_Among_the_Nations) in 1999

- [Alessandro Natta](/source/Alessandro_Natta) (1918–2001), politician

- [Giulio Natta](/source/Giulio_Natta) (1903–1979), chemist and [Nobel Prize](/source/Nobel_Prize) winner in 1963

- [Giovan Pietro Vieusseux](/source/Giovan_Pietro_Vieusseux) (1779–1863), writer and publisher [it:Giovan Pietro Vieusseux](https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giovan_Pietro_Vieusseux)

Others:

- [Grock](/source/Grock) (1880–1959), entertainer

## International relations

See also: [List of twin towns and sister cities in Italy](/source/List_of_twin_towns_and_sister_cities_in_Italy)

### Twin towns – Sister cities

Imperia is [twinned](/source/Twin_towns_and_sister_cities) with:

- [Friedrichshafen](/source/Friedrichshafen), Germany

- [Rosario](/source/Rosario%2C_Santa_Fe), [Argentina](/source/Argentina)[13]

- [Newport, Rhode Island](/source/Newport%2C_Rhode_Island), United States

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-16139ca327c50d72c40d8c5fd3abe706b989650e-v20_1-0)** ["Superficie di Comuni Province e Regioni italiane al 9 ottobre 2011"](https://www.istat.it/it/archivio/156224). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-wikidata-6c4193b2686f905553042f4ae1ae4934aea078c8-v20_2-0)** ["Popolazione Residente al 1° Gennaio 2018"](http://demo.istat.it/pop2018/index3.html). Italian National Institute of Statistics. Retrieved 16 March 2019.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-EB1911_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-EB1911_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-EB1911_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-EB1911_3-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-EB1911_3-4) [Chisholm, Hugh](/source/Hugh_Chisholm), ed. (1911). ["Porto Maurizio"](https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/1911_Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica/Porto_Maurizio). *[Encyclopædia Britannica](/source/Encyclop%C3%A6dia_Britannica_Eleventh_Edition)*. Vol. 22 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 123–124.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Noted in William Smith, *A Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography*, vol 2 1873:187, *s.v.* "Liguria"

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** "Portus Maurici, dessen Name auf christliche Zeitalter hindeutet" (Konrad Mannert, *Geographie der Griechen und Römen aus Ihren Schriften*, Volume 9, Part 1 Book 3, 1823:276); Domenico Anfossi, *De sacrarum reliquiarum cultu* (1610) suggests a deformation of *Maurorum Portus* in a passage quoted extensively in Giuseppe Figari, *Saggi cronologici della città del Porto-Maurizio* 1810:13.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** An earlier notice in the continuator of [Caffaro's](/source/Caffaro_di_Rustico_da_Caschifellone) *[Annals of Genoa](/source/Annals_of_Genoa)*, under the year 1204 and other years, is mentioned in Peter Wesseling's notices of the Antonine Itinerary, *Vetera Romanorum itineraria, sive Antonini Augusti itinerarium* (Amsterdam 1735:502) *s.v.* "Portus Maurici".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-ISPRA_7-0)** ["Valori climatici normali di temperatura e precipitazione in Italia"](https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/files/pubblicazioni/SA_55_14_Valori_climatici_normali.pdf) (PDF). Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Clim_8-0)** ["Clima - Imperia (Liguria)"](https://www.climieviaggi.it/clima/italia/imperia). Climi e viaggi. Retrieved 26 November 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** [\[1\]](https://www.parrocchiasanmaurizio.it)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Profilo e storia della Riviera Trasporti"](https://web.archive.org/web/20170704172600/http://rivieratrasporti.it/AboutRT.asp) (in Italian). Archived from [the original](http://www.rivieratrasporti.it/AboutRT.asp) on 4 July 2017. Retrieved 1 October 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** ["Treni, iniziata l'era del raddoppio Andora-San Lorenzo"](https://web.archive.org/web/20161214004011/http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/imperia/2016/12/11/ASCSLSVF-lorenzo_iniziata_raddoppio.shtml) (in Italian). Archived from [the original](http://www.ilsecoloxix.it/p/imperia/2016/12/11/ASCSLSVF-lorenzo_iniziata_raddoppio.shtml) on 14 December 2016. Retrieved 12 December 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Whitehouse, Rosie (2013). *Liguria : the Bradt travel guide* (1st ed.). Chalfont St. Peter: Bradt Travel Guides. pp. 194–196. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9781841624730](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9781841624730).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Rosario_twinnings_13-0)** ["Town Twinning Agreements"](https://web.archive.org/web/20150319103223/http://www.rosario.gov.ar/mr/mri/www/city-city-program/town-twinning-agreements). Municipalidad de Rosario - Buenos Aires 711. Archived from [the original](http://www.rosario.gov.ar/mr/mri/www/city-city-program/town-twinning-agreements) on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 14 October 2014.

## External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Imperia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Imperia).

- [City of Imperia website](http://www.comune.imperia.it) (in Italian)

- [Province of Imperia website](http://www.provincia.imperia.it) (in Italian)

- [Imperia Mare Association website](http://www.imperiamare.it/imperiamare/index-e.htm) (in Italian, English, and French)

- [Museo dell' Olivo website](http://www.museodellolivo.com/eng/index.htm) (in Italian, English, German, and French)

Authority control databases International VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Czech Republic Israel Geographic MusicBrainz area Other Yale LUX

v t e Liguria · Comuni of the Province of Imperia Airole Apricale Aquila d'Arroscia Armo Aurigo Badalucco Bajardo Bordighera Borghetto d'Arroscia Borgomaro Camporosso Caravonica Castellaro Castel Vittorio Ceriana Cervo Cesio Chiusanico Chiusavecchia Cipressa Civezza Costarainera Diano Arentino Diano Castello Diano Marina Diano San Pietro Dolceacqua Dolcedo Imperia Isolabona Lucinasco Mendatica Molini di Triora Montalto Carpasio Montegrosso Pian Latte Olivetta San Michele Ospedaletti Perinaldo Pietrabruna Pieve di Teco Pigna Pompeiana Pontedassio Pornassio Prelà Ranzo Rezzo Riva Ligure Rocchetta Nervina San Bartolomeo al Mare San Biagio della Cima San Lorenzo al Mare Sanremo Santo Stefano al Mare Seborga Soldano Cosio di Arroscia Taggia Terzorio Triora Vallebona Vallecrosia Vasia Ventimiglia Vessalico Villa Faraldi

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Imperia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.