Villa Nostra Signora

The city of Imperia is the capital of the Liguria Liguria Province. It is located on the Riviera di Ponente, the western part of the Italian Riviera of Flowers, and is part of the Gulf of Genoa. Imperia is not only located in beautiful mountain scenery, it also has fantastic beaches. Imperia has only existed since 1923. In that year the towns of Porto Maurizio on the left and Oneglia, on the right bank of the Impero, were merged with a few small municipalities from the area, such as Artallo. Imperia has 2 separate centers. The most important and most worth seeing part is Porto Maurizio; proudly situated on the Paraiso hill. The old city center was built around the cathedral basilica and has been the capital since 1241. This part is recognizable as an Italian coastal town with beautiful squares, narrow alleys and streets and beautiful vistas. High above the center is the Convento di S. Chiara, with a fantastic view of the sea and Porto Maurizio. In the vicinity of this monastery is also the birthplace of the famous S. Leonardo, the patron saint of the city. Restaurants and cafes can be found in the most unexpected places. A new large marina has been located at the porto marina for several years now, which can compete with Nice. The Oneglia part has a French history, which is reflected in the construction of the city center with large squares and shopping streets with arcades. It has a larger retail base than Porto Maurizio and is home to industry. In Oneglia is the old marina. There are still many good (fish) restaurants along this promenade and various outdoor activities and festivities take place throughout the year. Between Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, imposing government offices were built in Mussolini's time. A building style that can be admired and admired. In the hinterland of Imperia, just a few kilometers away, are picturesque villages. Worth a visit are: Dolcedo, Poggi, Caramagna Ligure, Borgo Sant Agatha. But certainly also Montegrazie. With the church lit up at night, which can be seen from our house and is a beacon for miles around. Montegrazie is the birthplace of the wife of US President Roosevelt. This couple made an important contribution to the restoration of this very interesting Crusader Church. It is a place of pilgrimage where a miracle took place in 1237. The place is a stopping place on the Grande Randonnee walking route. Next to the church is an Agriturismo where a pranzo on Sunday afternoon is highly recommended! From a culinary point of view, we also recommend the freshly produced olive oil from the Taggiasca olive (can only be found in Liguria), the excellent wine from this area (Pigato and Vermentino) and fresh fish directly from the sea. Ligurian cuisine is originally simple, with the use of many fresh wild herbs; Sundays searched and picked together by the Italian family in the woods.