The city of Imperia was founded in 1923 due to the union between Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, two separate towns of historical importance. Today it is the main town of the Riviera of Flowers.
Imperia – Porto Maurizio is positioned on a small promontory above the Mediterranean called “Parasio” offering a stunning view on the Gulf.
Remarkable are:
– the old town with the huge loggia of the Saint Claire – monastery built on the medieval walls
– the church and birthplace of Saint Leonard, the saint protector of the city Imperia
– the elegant oratorio of Saint Peter built on a view-point
– the Duomo of Saint Maurice, a neo-classical monument, unique in Western Liguria
– the international Naval Museum showing Ligurian and national tradition of cruise
– the small district Borgo Foce, an old fishing-spot and former centre of tannery.
– the small district of Borgo Marina with its harbour (and soon a huge yacht-harbour)
Imperia-Oneglia is the seat of administration, food-industry (pasta and olive-oil) and a big trade-harbour.
Worth seeing is the palace of the Doria family where the famous admiral Andrea Doria was born in 1466, the parish church of Saint John the Baptist in the pedestrian area and the Olive Museum of the factory Fratelli Carli showing the 5000 years of history of the olive in a beautiful liberty-styled building.
You might enjoy some shopping around the central Dante square and the Via Bonfante with covered archways or on the weekly market (Wednesdays and Saturdays).