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Liguria's geographical
position, mild climate and pleasant landscapes have made it a successful
traditional pole of attraction for national and international seaside
tourism since the middle of last century. All along the coast, from
Ventimiglia to Lerici, there are small holiday resorts which, though
themselves endowed with works of art, have only developed alongside the
famous holiday resorts: Bordighera, Sanremo, Alassio, Finale Ligure,
Nervi, Portofino, Santa Margherita and Rapallo. The development of tourism
has improved amenities and infrastructures but not without damage to the
environment, only now the object of energetic measures of conservation.
The authentic character of the region can still be found in the quiet
corners of certain seaside villages or in the rare coves still unaltered
by the hands of man. In the Cinque Terre, for instance, a group of
picturesque fishing villages clinging to a rocky coastline, cars are
banned. The beautiful inland area, bypassed by the tourist hordes, is
surprisingly and unexpectedly fascinating and deserves greater attention.
Behind Sanremo alternative itineraries touch the medieval villages of
Taggia and Triora; Pigna with its characteristic chibi (alleys) surrounded
by olive groves; Apricale, a medieval village magnificently facing south;
Dolceacqua, with the Doria castle and vineyards. Farther north, on the
slopes of Mount Saccarello (2,200 m.) lies Monesi, a winter sports resort.
The inland areas round Savona with their
picturesque villages, Calizzano, Millesimo and Pontinvrea deserve a visit;
in the Province of Genoa, Uscio has the Romanesque church of
Sant'Ambrogio; Torriglia, near Lake Brugneto and Fontanigorda, amongst
woods and meadows, in an area of considerable mycological interest (mushrooms).
On the slopes of Mount Maggiorasca (1,799 m.) lies Santo Stefano d'Aveto,
an Apennine winter sports resort. Far inland, behind the Riviera di
Levante, lies Varese Ligure (interesting urban plan) and, on the Tuscan
boundary, stands Sarzana, a small town with a wealth of history and
interesting church buildings, the majestic Cittadella and the Fort of
Sarzanello.
Other parts of Liguria have extremely interesting grottoes and
archeological features. These include the Balzi Rossi (prehistory museum),
near Ventimiglia, characterized by the presence of human settlements
dating from the Paleolithic to the Meso lithic periods, then the popular
Grotte di Toirano (grottoes), inland from Loano, which can be visited,
following a planned route, for more than a kilometre amidst spectacular
mineral deposits and evidence of man's life twelve thousand years ago;
lastly Luni, an ancient Roman town near the mouth of the Magra, which
conserves splendid traces of its past, such as the `Grande Tempio',
`Campidoglio', the Forum and the Amphitheatre (Museo Archeologico
Nazionale-national archeological museum).
Other
Roman monuments can be seen at Ventimiglia (theatre, 2nd century BC.),
Albenga, Albisola Superiore, Bocca di Magra etc.
Traces of prehistoric civilization are also to be seen
at Finale Ligure, inland from Varazze, and at Chiavari. |
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