Catani+the+ligurian+Riviera

==  Position :The Italian Riviera is essentially another name for the coast of Liguria, one of the country's smallest but most intriguing regions, lying to the west above Italy's great boot. Resonating with style and charm, this sweeping shore curves from Ventimiglia in the west near the French border to Genoa making the so called “Riviera di Ponente” and from Genoa to Portovenere in the east, passing for Cinque Terre, making the “Riviera di Levante”. ==

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== Climate : Spread quietly along the Mediterranean and sheltered by the Maritime Alps and Ligurian Apennines to the north, this coastline paradise offers a particular micro-climate characterized by a greatly mild climate which allows the cultivation of flowers and other mediteranean products. ==

==  History : Liguria has traces of occupation dating back to prehistoric times. It became an administrative region of Rome during the second century AD. Normans and Saracens colonised Liguria and Napoleon took the region in 1796. Bonaparte's invasion saw the end of the great maritime republic of Genoa which had ruled the region and the seas since the thirteenth century. After Napoleon Liguria was absorbed into the Kingdom of Savoy and Sardinia. ==

==  Tourist attractions : The Italian Riviera is always a place choose by poets and men of letters. Byron and Shelley were smitten by the Gulf of La Spezia to the east, and Lerici Bay was renamed The Gulf of Poets in their honour. DH Lawrence lived in the fishing village of Fiascherino, while Ernest Hemingway stayed at Rapallo. ==

At the center of the Italian Riviera sits the Ligurian capital, Genoa, the largest commercial port in Italy.
== There are also other fascinating towns: Albenga and Ventimiglia, both important centers in Liguria during the time of the Romans that offer historical landmarks and remnants of ancient and medieval civilization; Sanremo, a marvellous slice of old-world Riviera grandeur with a remarcable casino; Portofino which was the hot spot for the beautiful people in the 1950s; Portovenere, a port town in the province of La Spezia's and the Cinque Terre which are 5 scenic villages linked by train and hiking trails. They are part of the Cinque Terre National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997. ==

==  Cuisine : Liguria offers a large choice of typical dishes; tasty fish soups and the famous pasta al pesto served with trenette or lasagna. ==