Real estate in Imperia has now become very popular in Liguria. Imperia, the provincial capital, is named after the Impero River. The city was formed in 1923 by merging Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, as well as the urban areas of nine other urban centers. Porto Maurizio, located west of Impero, on a promontory by the sea, is clearly oriented towards tourism. The town's historic center, Paraiso, which has been closely linked to Genoa since the 13th century, has a vibrant medieval flavor.
Oneglia, on the other hand, is the industrial "heart" of Imperia; The historic buildings here also have medieval origins, but the more architecturally interesting part of the city is Piazza Dante and Via Bonfante, developed in the 19th century. The Town Hall (Municipio), the post office, and the square in Piazza Vittoria, created during the Fascist period, when the new city was formed, are located between the two centers, Oneglia and Porto Maurizio.
The local differences between these two centers, however, remained quite strong until recent decades: Imperia today has two former municipal buildings, two cathedrals, and even three patron saints. While the historic center of Porto Maurizio is a typical medieval village, the mainland region of Imperia is distinguished by the presence of Baroque architectural monuments dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries, a period of cultural and economic prosperity for the area. Undoubtedly, the former municipal building is particularly noteworthy in Oneglia: built in the 1890s after lengthy delays due to lack of funds, the town hall acquired a pseudo-medieval style. You can also visit the Doria Palace, which was a feudal residence since ancient times and was later transformed into a characteristic Renaissance mansion. Finally, don't miss the Olive Museum, built by the Carli brothers next to their famous factory.
Visiting this museum means taking a unique journey into the history of olives, the grateful trees that are so important to the economy of this region, a land so difficult to cultivate.
