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| Provincia di Imperia | |
|---|---|
| Name | Provincia di Imperia |
| Settlement type | Province |
| Coordinates | 43°53′N 8°03′E |
| Country | Italy |
| Region | Liguria |
| Capital | Imperia |
| Area km2 | 1,156 |
| Population total | 214061 |
| Population as of | 2015 |
| Established | 1923 |
| Postal code | 18100 |
| Registration plate | IM |
Provincia di Imperia is a province in the northwestern Italian region of Liguria, with its capital at Imperia. It occupies a coastal stretch along the Ligurian Sea bordering France and the regions of Piedmont and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. The province is noted for Riviera towns such as Sanremo and Ventimiglia, as well as for agricultural products like the Taggiasca olive and cultural links to figures such as Gabriele D'Annunzio and Giuseppe Garibaldi.
The province lies on the westernmost segment of the Italian Riviera and encompasses the Riviera dei Fiori coastline, the Maritime Alps foothills, and the Tanaro and Centallo river valleys. Key municipalities include Imperia, Sanremo, Ventimiglia, Bordighera, Diano Marina, and Taggia. Major geographic features are the Capo Mortola promontory, the Capo Berta headland, and the Capo Mele cape; islands and marine habitats are contiguous with the Portofino Promontory marine systems recognized by conservation groups such as WWF and IUCN. The province borders the French communes of Menton and Roquebrune-Cap-Martin and shares mountain passes like the Colle di Tenda with Cuneo province.
The coastal zone was settled by Ligures and later colonized by the Greeks and the Romans, integrating into the Roman Empire networks of Genua and Albingaunum. During the Middle Ages control oscillated among Marquisate of Saluzzo, the Republic of Genoa, and feudal lords such as the Doria family and the Grimaldi family. The area was contested in wars including campaigns by Napoleon Bonaparte and the Congress of Vienna settlements; it was incorporated into the Kingdom of Sardinia and then the Kingdom of Italy after the Risorgimento. In the 20th century the province was established in 1923 amid administrative reforms under the Kingdom of Italy, later experiencing events tied to World War II and postwar reconstruction influenced by figures like Alcide De Gasperi.
The province operates within the institutional framework set by Italy and the Region of Liguria, with municipal administrations in communes such as Imperia, Sanremo, and Ventimiglia overseen by elected mayors from parties including Partito Democratico (Italy), Lega Nord, and Forza Italia. Provincial competences historically covered roads and education infrastructures connected to national laws like the reforms following the Constitution of Italy and later statutes enacted by the Regional Council of Liguria. Inter-municipal bodies coordinate tourism promotion with agencies linked to ENIT and cross-border cooperation through Euroregions involving Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur authorities.
The province's economy is anchored in horticulture—especially the Taggiasca olive and floriculture concentrated in Sanremo—and maritime activities in ports such as Imperia Porto Maurizio and Ventimiglia Harbor. Tourism tied to events like the Sanremo Music Festival, the Milan–San Remo cycling classic, and the Sanremo Casino generates services employment, while artisanal industries include boatbuilding in Oneglia and olive oil production marketed under Italian classifications monitored by bodies like the Consorzio systems. Small-scale manufacturing links to supply chains in Genoa and Ventimiglia and cross-border commerce with France supports retail and logistics sectors.
Population centers include Imperia with its districts Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, Sanremo, Ventimiglia, Bordighera, and smaller towns like Dolceacqua and Alassio nearby. Demographic trends reflect aging populations, internal migration toward coastal municipalities, and seasonal influxes tied to tourism and events such as the Sanremo Festival. Local communities preserve dialects related to Ligurian language varieties, while migration patterns have introduced residents from Romania, Morocco, and Ukraine, contributing to religious communities anchored in Roman Catholicism and minority groups associated with Orthodox Church jurisdictions.
Cultural landmarks include the Villa Nobel, the Ariston Theatre, the Hanbury Botanical Gardens in La Mortola, and medieval sites like the Castello di Dolceacqua associated with paintings by Claude Monet and writings by Gabriele D'Annunzio. Annual events such as the Sanremo Music Festival, the Milan–San Remo race finish, and flower shows attract visitors along routes connected to Via Aurelia and coastal promenades. Museums like the Museo dell'Olivo and culinary traditions featuring Italian cuisine specialties—pesto variations, anchovy products, and olive oil—link to gastronomy promoted by entities such as Slow Food and guidebooks by publishers like Einaudi.
Transport infrastructure includes the coastal section of the Autostrada A10 (Autostrada dei Fiori), the Genoa–Ventimiglia railway line with stations at Sanremo and Ventimiglia, and regional roads connecting mountain passes like the Colle di Tenda road tunnel. Maritime links operate from small ports to nearby French harbors, while bus services connect inland communes and tourist sites; logistics operations interact with customs frameworks at the Italy–France border crossing in Ventimiglia and coordination with regional airports such as Nice Côte d'Azur Airport and Genoa Cristoforo Colombo Airport for international access.
Category:Provinces of Italy Category:Geography of Liguria