Finale Ligure - Photo Gallery 01 02 03
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Adding new photographs of Liguria,
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Finale Ligure, Province of SAVONA
The Romans called the border area between the Sabatian and Ingauni tribes of Liguria "Ad Fines"; in mediaeval times it was the place of residence of the noble Del Carretto family and was for centuries the greatest obstacle to total control of the Western Riviera by the Republic of Genoa.
In prehistoric times the territory of Finale was for a long time inhabited: evidence found in the numerous grottoes and now held in the Finale Public Museum, testifies to the continuity of human settlement from the middle Palaeolithic era. The grottoes of Arene Candide, Fate, Rocca di Perti, Rio, and above all the grotto of Pollera (or Pian Marino), one of the largest, are very famous.
The Finale area is also well known for the "Pietra di Finale", the chalk cliff faces that rise as high as 80 metres, which are a great favourite with the region's climbing enthusiasts: these immense climbing practice areas (600 routes along equipped faces for a total of 50 linear kilometres) are ideally situated. They are also close to the sea (with a relatively mild winter climate) and to the main road networks.
Finalborgo was the capital of the Del Carretto aristocratic domain. The residence of the marquises, Castel Gavone, was built in 1191 but all that remains are the outside walls and the Torre del Diamante. By contrast, the thirteenth-century town walls are intact. The basilica of San Biagio is a mediaeval building that was reconstructed in 1637: its interior preserves works from the late Renaissance and Baroque periods. The first parish church of the area (fourth century) was built in Finale Marina and parts of it can still be seen in the church of the Capuchins. The basilica of San Giovanni Battista has an impressive interior and is one of the most important monuments from the Ligurian Baroque period. Many grandiose buildings and aristocratic residences can be seen in Finalborgo and Finale Marina.
Varigotti, on the rocky coast in the direction of Noli, is a very old coastal town. Its port was filled in by the Genoese in 1341. The church of San Lorenzo il Vecchio was built in the twelfth century as a Benedictine abbey on the site of an earlier building.
Note: The above is an extract taken from the official web-site of the Regione Ligure, Agriculture and tourism department - Tourist section. |
Travel Hint: Travelling along the Italian Riviera to visit Liguria's coastal towns and cities is recommended by train - they are frequent, comfortable and generally on time. They also take you into the resort centres and give you an additional perspective and 'flavour' of Italian life. The car by contrast is not quite as practical and ideal as first appears. There are basically two roads along the Riviera, the 'autostrada' and the 'Aurelia'. Italian 'autostrada' can be fairly stressed environments and the coastal road (via Aurelia) is pretty in parts but very slow, passing through every little seaside town. Additionally, parking in most Ligurian coastal towns is not in abundance and can take much longer to find a space than ever imagined - during most of the year, not just in summer. With car-hire, petrol, motorway tolls and parking charges, the car soon becomes an expensive and less than ideal way of getting around - and more often than not, slower overall than the journey by train.
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