Imperia
It is the provincial capital, set in the centre of the coast known as Riviera dei Fiori. It is divided in two by the Impero stream, on one side Oneglia and on the other Porto Maurizio. The most ancient nucleus begins in the location of Castelvecchio and the first territorial expansion towards the sea goes back to the communal period. In Imperia (mostly in Oneglia) are centralised administrative, industrial and harbour activities.
Its major industries are olive oil refining plants and pasta making firms. The latter work with imported wheat while the olives for the oil come from thick olive groves which extend all over the Imperia valley. It is, therefore, interesting to visit the Fratelli Carli Olive-oil Museum, not far from Oneglia’s central square (Piazza Dante) where you can see the hundreds of exhibited objects testifying 600 years of history; oil in art, religion, alimentation and in every day life in the mediterranean regions.
