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Liguria

geography Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Liguria is a beautiful region in northwest Italy.

Map of region of Liguria, Italy, with provinces-en
Map of region of Liguria, Italy, with provinces-en

It sits along the edge of the Ligurian Sea. To its west, it borders France. To the north, it meets Piedmont. To the east, it touches Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.

AlpiLiguri0001
AlpiLiguri0001

The land is a very narrow strip. It is squeezed between the sea and two big mountain ranges. These are the Alps and the Apennines. The highest point in the whole region is Monte Saccarello.

Valle Trebbia-(scaled-and-sharpened)
Valle Trebbia-(scaled-and-sharpened)

Because the mountains are so close to the water, the weather stays mild. This makes the region a pleasant place to visit even in winter.

The coast is often called the Italian Riviera.

This area stretches about 350 kilometers from the French border to the east. You can divide it into two parts. The western part is called the Riviera di Ponente. The eastern part is called the Riviera di Levante.

Vernazza and the sea, Cinque Terre, Italy
Vernazza and the sea, Cinque Terre, Italy

Many famous towns are found here, such as Portofino and the Cinque Terre. Some of these villages are even called among the most beautiful in Italy. Travelers love the sunshine and the colorful buildings. The area gets about 300 days of sun every year.

People have lived in this land for a very long time.

Le caverne
Le caverne

Archaeologists found traces of humans living in caves here 300,000 years ago. This is one of the longest places for humans to live in the world.

Resti del principe delle arene candide
Resti del principe delle arene candide

Long ago, a group called the Ligures lived in this area. They lived in a much larger territory than the region does today. Later, the Romans arrived and built cities like Genoa.

TavolaPolcevera
TavolaPolcevera

Genoa was once a very important place for trade. It traded things like timber, honey, and skins with other people.

Today, many people live in Liguria.

Aerial view - Harbour of Genoa, Italy - DSC01156
Aerial view - Harbour of Genoa, Italy - DSC01156

About 1.5 million people call this region home. Most of them live near the coast. The region is very crowded compared to other parts of Italy.

La Spezia - Ingresso Arsenale
La Spezia - Ingresso Arsenale

Large cities like Genoa and La Spezia are very busy. They have major shipyards and naval bases. Other towns focus on making food or textiles. You can also find many natural reserves here. These parks protect the plants and animals of the region.

Liguria is a place that has inspired many famous people.

Il Palazzo Doria- Tursi splendente
Il Palazzo Doria- Tursi splendente

Great writers like Ernest Hemingway and Lord Byron visited here. They loved the spirit and the beauty of the land.

PastaWithPesto
PastaWithPesto

The region is also famous for its delicious food. You might try pasta with pesto while you are there. Many parts of Liguria are also protected by UNESCO. This means they are recognized as World Heritage Sites because they are so special. From its ancient caves to its busy ports, Liguria is a land of many stories.

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🖼️ Images & Media (36)
File:Cinque Terre Vernazza 2.jpg
Cinque Terre Vernazza 2.jpg
File:AlpiLiguri0001.jpg
AlpiLiguri0001.jpg
File:Valle Trebbia-(scaled-and-sharpened).jpg
Valle Trebbia-(scaled-and-sharpened).jpg
File:Il Palazzo Doria- Tursi splendente.JPG
Il Palazzo Doria- Tursi splendente.JPG
File:Flickr - …trialsanderrors - La Riviera italienne, travel poster for ENIT, ca. 1920.jpg
Flickr - …trialsanderrors - La Riviera...
File:Le caverne.jpg
Le caverne.jpg
File:Resti del principe delle arene candide.jpg
Resti del principe delle arene candide.jpg
File:TavolaPolcevera.jpg
TavolaPolcevera.jpg
File:Regio IX Liguria.jpg
Regio IX Liguria.jpg
File:Luna Amphitheater1.jpg
Luna Amphitheater1.jpg
File:La Ligurie de Mercator 1576.jpg
La Ligurie de Mercator 1576.jpg
File:Repubblica di Genova.png
Repubblica di Genova.png

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