emmed-in by the Alps to the north, France to the west and Tuscany to the south, the region of Liguria, otherwise known as the Italian Riviera, represents a narrow strip of undulating coastline stretching for 440 kilometres on the Ligurian Sea and a rugged hinterland that's quite breathtakingly beautiful. In an area dominated by the sea, it's no surprise to learn that its capital city Genoa was once a mighty maritime power of the medieval world, rivalling Venice for control of world trade at one time in its history. Known affectionately as La Superba, Genoa marks the halfway point along Liguria's coastline, dividing it in two with the Riviera di Ponente (coast of the setting sun) to the west and the Riviera di Levante (coast of the rising sun) to the east. Within the two rivieras are some of Italy's most beautiful seaside resorts, along with the area known as the Cinque Terre, or "five lands", a series of fishing villages recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, along with the nearby town of Portovenere and the small group of islands it faces including Palmaria. The names of Liguria's most famous resorts read like a who's who of Italian seaside towns including Portofino, Sanremo and Rapallo. Lesser-known but no less beautiful, towns such as Sestri Levante and Camogli fly slightly under the international radar but are firm favourites among Italians. Imperia Province occupies the area between Savona Province to the east and France to the west. This stretch of coastline was one of the first to be developed when international tourism arrived around the beginning of the 19th century. The greatest expression of architecture from the period can be found in Sanremo; a signature seaside town famous for its casino and glamorous hotels. liguria & piedmont H Occupying a stretch of coastline with crystalline water, rugged cliffs and vineyards, it's easy to understand how the area has become so popular in modern times. As something of a paradox, it is the slight difficulty to reach the Cinque Terre that has added to its allure. The only traffic here is restricted to the locals and consists of small agricultural vehicles or cars. The roads in the area are narrow, steep and not suitable for large numbers of vehicles and this has helped preserve the special character of the villages. cinque terre 28
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