Stretching out around the mouth of the River Impero, the Ligurian city of Imperia lies at the heart of one of Italy's prime floricultural regions - the evidence is everwhere in this city of flowers. Imperia is also renowned for the cultivation of very good olives. The town divides into the two old districts of Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, either side of the river, with the smaller area of Montegrazie. Imperia itself is a recent construct, being created by Mussolini from this collection of villages (with a few other hamlets tossed in for good measure) in 1923.
As well as the flowers, there are other less transient delights to enjoy in Imperia. The Porto Maurizio area has the Old Town (or 'Parasio'); also see the Cathedral of San Maurizio, which is the largest church in Liguria apparently, and a relatively modern neoclassical duomo, being built between 1781 and 1832. There is a small naval museum and the Convent of Santa Chiara (a 14th century order, though the current building is from the 1740s). Porto Maurizio's thoroughfares are the narrow 'carrugi', very picturesque. Once a possession of Genoa, Porto Maurizio relies largely on tourism today.
Oneglia district has the Museo dell'Olivo, the Church of San Giovanni Batista and the Villa Grock. Montegrazie district has the Shrine of Our Lady of Grace and the the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore. At the heart of Oneglia is Piazza Dante, with the main roads radiating out.
To the left you'll find a selection of hotels, to get you in the mood
- see also our full listings of Imperia hotels.
