Editing Liguria (section)

==Geography==
[[File:Cinque Terre Vernazza 2.jpg|thumb|left|A view of [[Cinque Terre]]]]
The narrow strip of land is bordered by the [[Ligurian Sea|sea]], the [[Alps]] and the [[Apennine Mountains]]. Some mountains rise above {{convert|2000|m|abbr=on}}; the [[Drainage divide|watershed]] line runs at an average altitude of about {{convert|1000|m|abbr=on}}. The highest point of the region is the summit of [[Monte Saccarello]] ({{convert|2201|m|abbr=on|disp=semicolon}}).

Liguria is the third smallest Italian region after [[Aosta Valley]] and [[Molise]], but is also one of the most densely populated, with a [[population density]] of 287 inhabitants/km<sup>2</sup>, much higher than the national average, and is fourth place after [[Campania]], [[Lombardy]] and [[Lazio]]. However, there is much difference between inland mountain areas and coastal areas.

The region is crossed east to west by the [[Ligurian Alps]] and the [[Ligurian Apennine]]s that form an interrupted chain, but discontinuous in its morphology, with stretches where the Alpine/Apennine ridge is extremely compact and high aligning very high mountain groups (north to Ventimiglia, a series of massifs which became French after the Second World War, rises up to altitudes of 2700–3000 m) while in other stretches (for example in the hinterland of Savona and Genoa) the mountain barrier is not very high and deeply crossed by short valleys and passes that do not reach 500 m above sea level ([[Colle di Cadibona|Bochetta di Altare]], Passo dei Giovi, Crocetta d'Orero).
[[File:AlpiLiguri0001.jpg|thumb|[[Ligurian Alps]]]]
[[File:Valle Trebbia-(scaled-and-sharpened).jpg|thumb|right|[[Apennine Mountains]] and [[Trebbia]] river]]

The winding arched extension goes from [[Ventimiglia, Italy|Ventimiglia]] to [[La Spezia]]. Of this, {{convert|3524.08|km2|2|abbr=on}} are mountainous (65% of the total) and {{convert|891.95|km2|2|abbr=on}} are hills (35% of the total). Liguria's natural reserves cover 12% of the entire region, or {{convert|600|km2|abbr=on}} of land. They are made up of one national reserve, six large parks, two smaller parks and three nature reserves.

The continental shelf is very narrow and so steep it descends almost immediately to considerable depths along its {{convert|350|km|adj=on}} coastline. Except for the [[Portovenere]] and [[Portofino]] promontories, the coast is generally not very jagged and is often high. At the mouths of the biggest watercourses are small beaches, but there are no deep bays and natural harbours except at [[Genoa]] and [[La Spezia]].

The hills lying immediately beyond the coast together with the sea account for a mild climate year-round. Average winter temperatures are {{convert|7|to|10|°C|°F|abbr=on}} and summer temperatures are {{convert|23|to|24|°C|°F|abbr=on}}, which make for a pleasant stay even in the dead of winter. Rainfall can be abundant at times, as mountains very close to the coast create an [[orographic]] effect. Genoa and [[La Spezia]] can see up to {{convert|2000|mm|-1|abbr=on}} of rain in a year; other areas instead show the normal Mediterranean rainfall of {{convert|500|to|800|mm|-1|abbr=on}} annually.

As of 2023, according to the report on land consumption of the Higher Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, [[Marche]] and Liguria hold the Italian record for coastal overbuilding.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liguria, the future razed to the ground|date=5 December 2023 |url=https://www.vanityfair.it/article/consumo-di-suolo-liguria}}<!-- auto-translated by Module:CS1 translator --></ref><ref>{{cite web |title=I dati sul consumo di suolo |url=https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/attivita/suolo-e-territorio/suolo/il-consumo-di-suolo/i-dati-sul-consumo-di-suolo |website=ISPRA Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale |language=it}}</ref>

===Italian Riviera===
[[File:Il Palazzo Doria- Tursi splendente.JPG|thumb|left|[[Palazzo Doria-Tursi|Palazzo Doria Tursi]] part of the [[Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli]] [[World Heritage Site]].]]

The [[Italian Riviera]] or Ligurian Riviera is the narrow coastal strip in [[Italy]] which lies between the [[Ligurian Sea]] and the mountain chain formed by the [[Maritime Alps]] and the [[Apennine Mountains|Apennines]]. Longitudinally it extends from the border with France and the [[French Riviera]] (or {{lang|fr|Côte d'Azur}}) near [[Ventimiglia, Italy|Ventimiglia]] (a former [[customs]] post) eastwards to Capo Corvo (also known as Punta Bianca) which marks the eastern end of the [[Gulf of La Spezia]] and is close to the regional border between Liguria and [[Tuscany]]. The Italian Riviera thus includes nearly all of the coastline of Liguria. Historically the "Riviera" extended further to the west, through what is now French territory as far as [[Marseille]].<ref>{{Cite book|first=Rosa |last=Baughan |year=1880 |title=Winter havens in the sunny South, a complete handbook to the Riviera |location=London |publisher=The Bazaar |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zg8IAAAAQAAJ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|first=Charles B. |last=Black |year=1887 |title=The Riviera, Or The Coast from Marseilles to Leghorn, Including Carrara, Lucca, Pisa, Pistoja and Florence |edition=Third |location=Edinburgh |publisher=Adam and Charles Black |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KKsaAAAAYAAJ }}</ref>

The Italian Riviera crosses all four [[Liguria#Administrative divisions|Ligurian provinces]] and their capitals [[Genoa]], [[Savona]], [[Imperia]] and [[La Spezia]], with a total length of about 350&nbsp;km (218 miles).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thegrandwinetour.com/en/popular-foods-of-italy/3-top-locations-to-scuba-dive-in-liguria |title= Into the Blue: 3 Top Locations to Scuba Dive in Liguria |website=www.thegrandwinetour.com}}</ref> It is customarily divided into a western section, the Ponente Riviera, and an eastern section, the Levante Riviera, the point of division being the apex of the Ligurian arc at [[Voltri]].<ref name=Britannica/> It has about 1.6 million inhabitants, and most of the population is concentrated within the coastal area.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.demo.istat.it/bilmens2017gen/index.html |title=Statistiche demografiche ISTAT |publisher=Demo.istat.it}}</ref> Its mild climate draws an active tourist trade in the numerous coastal [[resort]]s, which include [[Alassio]], [[Bonassola]], [[Bordighera]], [[Camogli]], [[Cinque Terre]], [[Lerici]], [[Levanto, Liguria|Levanto]], [[Noli]], [[Portofino]], [[Porto Venere]], [[Santa Margherita Ligure]], [[Sanremo]], [[San Fruttuoso Abbey|San Fruttuoso]], and [[Sestri Levante]]. It is also known for its historical association with international celebrity and artistic visitors;<ref>{{cite web|author=Italy |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/italy/724962/Italy-Portofino-guide.html |title=Italy: Portofino guide |date=24 August 2002 |publisher=Telegraph |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ross |first=Rory |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/europe/portofino-a-port-town-that-has-evaded-the-uglier-side-of-tourism-463761.html |title=Portofino: a port town that has evaded the uglier side of tourism - Europe - Travel |work=The Independent |date=2007-09-01 |access-date=2013-01-11}}</ref> writers and poets like [[Percy Bysshe Shelley]], [[Lord Byron]], [[Ezra Pound]], and [[Ernest Hemingway]] were inspired by the beauty and spirit of Liguria.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.trips2italy.com/liguria/culture-t2i |title=Culture of Italy's Riviera and Cinque Terre Liguria Region |website=Trips 2 Italy |date=6 June 2020 }}{{Dead link|date=May 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
[[File:Flickr - …trialsanderrors - La Riviera italienne, travel poster for ENIT, ca. 1920.jpg|thumb|[[Italian Riviera]], travel poster for [[ENIT]], ca. 1920.]]

As a tourist centre, the Italian Riviera benefits from over 300 days of sunshine per year, and is known for its beaches, colourfully painted towns, natural environment, food, and luxury villas and hotels, as well as for its popular resort facilities, major [[#Yacht clubs|yachting]] and cruising areas with several marinas, [[#Events and festivals|festivals]], golf courses, sailing, rock climbing and scenic views of centuries old farmhouses and cottages.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cottage-rental.com/italy/map-of-italy.asp|title=Map of Italy - Holiday homes and villa rentals, self catering in Italy|website=Holiday homes for rent|access-date=2020-11-10|archive-date=2021-08-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210828130941/https://www.cottage-rental.com/italy/map-of-italy.asp|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Industries are concentrated in and around Genoa, Savona, and along the shores of the Gulf of La Spezia. Genoa and La Spezia are Italy's leading shipyards; La Spezia is Italy's major naval base, and Savona is a major centre of the Italian iron industry. Chemical, textile, and food industries are also important.<ref name=Britannica>{{cite web |url= https://www.britannica.com/place/Liguria|title=Liguria - region, Italy |website=Britannica}}</ref> [[Genoa: Le Strade Nuove and the system of the Palazzi dei Rolli|A number of streets and palaces]] in the center of Genoa and the [[Cinque Terre National Park]] (which includes ''[[Cinque Terre]]'', [[Portovenere]], and the islands [[Palmaria (island)|Palmaria]], [[Tino (island)|Tino]] and [[Tinetto]]) are two of Italy's [[List of World Heritage Sites in Italy|58 World Heritage Sites]].

The Riviera's centre is [[Genoa]], which divides it into two main sections: the Riviera di Ponente ("the coast of the setting sun"), extending westwards from Genoa to the French border; and the Riviera di Levante ("the coast of the rising sun") between Genoa and Capo Corvo. It is known for its mild climate and its reputation for a relaxed way of life, old fishing ports, and landscapes. It has been a popular destination for travellers and [[tourism|tourists]] since the time of [[Byron]] and [[Percy Bysshe Shelley|Percy Shelley]].

Many villages and towns in the area are internationally known, such as [[Portofino]], [[Bordighera]], [[Lerici]] and the [[Cinque Terre]]. Many villages of Italian Riviera are counted among [[I Borghi più belli d'Italia]] ("The most beautiful villages of Italy").<ref>{{cite web |url=https://borghipiubelliditalia.it/liguria/ |title=Liguria |website=borghipiubelliditalia.it |date=10 January 2017 |access-date=31 July 2023|language=it}}</ref> The part of the Riviera di Ponente centred on [[Savona]], is called the Riviera delle Palme (the Riviera of palms); the part centred on [[Sanremo, Italy|Sanremo]], is the Riviera dei Fiori, after the long-established [[flower]] growing industry.