The Italian Riviera history is colorful and eventful and has influenced what the Riviera is today. The Italian Riviera is a popular tourist destination for travelers and locals because of its beautiful landscape, the mild climate and the charm of the bustling fishing port. The Italian Riviera is actually the term used to describe the coastline along the Liguria and features crystal clear, blue waters and various resorts.

Punic War and the Romans

The Italian Riviera, which is often used to refer to Liguria, has been occupied by the Ligurian people since the 5th century B.C.  When the city was occupied by the Romans, Liguria's area included the coast to the banks of Po River. It was also during the Roman reign that roads leading to the city were developed which helped to increase trade. You can still see ruins of these towns today in the Italian Riviera.

The Byzantine and Lombards

Liguria was occupied by the Byzantines and the Lombards between the 4th and 10th centuries. The Ligurians were again divided. During the 11th and 15th centuries, the area experienced some commercial and political successes and became the most powerful maritime region in the Mediterranean.

Napoleon’s Rule

Under Napoleon, the republic was transformed to the Ligurian Republic and patterned after the French Republic. During this time, Liguria was divided into 3 sections: Genoa, Montenotte and Apennines. Over the years, the three sections fought with each other until Napoleon’s defeat. In 1814, the Congress of Vienna connected Liguria with Sardinia, but the people rose up in 1821 against the House of Savoy.

Modern Day

After Liguria’s independence, the region started to see development in commerce and trade. More towns started appearing along the coast became one of the main ports in the area. However, during World War II, Liguria experienced great devastation for 2 years until their liberation. After the war, the Italian Risorgimento was created and started the modernization of Italy. Over the years, reconstruction and development of the mainland and coastline of Liguria continued until what is now referred to as the Italian Riviera. Although industry has declined over the last few decades, tourism has grown in popularity and importance along the Italian Riviera.