Imperia and Cervo

Imperia

Imperia, the capital of an Italian province on the western coast of Liguria, is a recent city, created during the fascist era by bringing together 11 small towns.
It offers the opportunity for many discoveries, between its beaches and its historical sites, including its culinary heritage. The area indeed lives off fishing and olive cultivation.

At Calata Cuneo, the coast is bordered by the pleasant district of Oneglia (Oneille in French), with its elegant streets, the Palazzo del Comune and the pleasant seafront. Along the latter, the promenade is lively with its arcades, right in front of the site of the historic fishing port of Oneglia, and which retains much charm, where restaurants, cafés and ice cream parlours are located, with bars and clubs in the evening.
The Villa Grock, home of the Clown Museum, is a tribute to the famous Swiss clown of the early 20th century with its superb sets with multiple inspirations, and the sculptures of the park.
The Carlo Carli olive oil museum reveals the importance of the olive in Imperia and in Italy, in an 18th-century building, retracing the rich history of olive oil production.

On the other side of the port of Imperia, to the west, Porto-Maurizio (Port-Maurice in French) is a beautiful small town that covers the Parasio hill, with its beautiful esplanades and promenades.
The Parasio is the historic heart of the town, shaped in the Middle Ages, which preserves suggestive narrow streets and stairways, as well as pretty views over the coast and the city. There you will find the largest church in Liguria, the Basilica of Saint Maurice, whose twin bell towers reach 36 metres in height.

The Borgo Peri runs along the sea with its pebble beaches and its palm-lined promenade, lively in summer.
East of Oneglia, Galeazza beach is the most charming with its exposed rocks. On the other side of the port jetty is Borgo Prino beach.

Diano Marina

Diano Marina is a quiet seaside resort, on the Gulf of Diano and close to Imperia. It has a beautiful promenade and a long sandy beach.

Cervo

Cervo is one of the most beautiful sites of the Riviera dei Fiori, a hilltop village with steep narrow streets that overlooks the coast, listed among the “most beautiful villages in Italy”.
Its history goes back to antiquity, and Cervo became an independent municipality in the Middle Ages. The pedestrian historic centre has been entirely restored with its cobbled streets, where you come across artisans’ workshops, noble palaces, some of which retain 18th-century frescoes, the old castle and the beautiful baroque church of San Giovanni, which dates back to the time when the Knights of Malta controlled the town. It stands on its beautiful parvis.
The castle houses the Ethnographic Museum of Western Liguria. The Romanesque oratory dates back to the 12th century.

Map

Information

• Imperia: en.wikipedia.org, www.imperiadavedere.it, inviaggio.touringclub.it, www.liguria.info
• Cervo: genovaturismo.it, www.imperiadavedere.it