Coastal town of Liguria, formed in 1923 by a group of administrative municipalities, including the major Porto Maurizio and Oneglia, Imperia retains the atmosphere of a typical coast location, a port and an historic center, the ruins of an ancient castle on top of a hill and the inevitable promenade with characteristic colorful buildings. Still today, along the streets of the city, you can distinguish the two souls which constitute the essence: Oneglia at east and Porto at west. Oneglia is the modern soul of the city, dominated by square Dante, from which branches off the busiest streets of downtown; Porto Maurizio, on the contrary, is perched along the rocky walls of a promontory and is the most ancient soul of the city, a maze of narrow streets.
Imperia presents itself as a true capital of the Mediterranean diet: little meat, many herbs, fish and cheese. Renowned is also the production of oil, an important resource witnessed by the numerous companies in the area, from small to large manufacturers who export all over Italy and abroad, First of all the company Fratelli Carli. If you are passionate and interested to this extraordinary product, to its creation and history, don’t miss the Olive Museum, set up by the local company Carli.
Passing through the central Square Dante, stop into the historic Pasticceria Piccardo, born in 1905 and known for its service quality and the goodness of its offer – that declines in ice cream, pastries, liqueurs and confectionery.
Among the best restaurants to sample the local cuisine we announce Osteria Didu, that offers a typical Mediterranean cuisine in a modern setting, with an everyday change of dishes as they’re prepared using seasonal products. Try the octopus buridda in red wine or gnocchi with squid, trumpet fish and bottarga. In the Prino area, a small fishing village nestled amongst the waterfront homes, we find the welcoming Ristorante Sarri, a real home of taste and senses. On the picturesque pedestrian area of Marina Oneglia instead, overlooks restaurant Chez Braccioforte, local with refined rooms decorated in a nautical style born in 1892; here, the traditional cuisine, revisited, expresses itself at maximum with the locally caught fish coming every day from the nearby auction of Oneglia.
For overnight stays in the Ligurian town, we suggest Hotel Rossini Al Teatro located where once was the historical namesake theater, near the port and 300 meters from the Olive Museum. For a stay in the green of the olive trees and the peace of nature, but still close to the sea, we recommend Il Nido Resort, a small and comfortable retreat that, thanks to its colors and location, reproduces the atmosphere of a small Ligurian village.
