Page 49 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

THE HIST OR Y OF THE IT ALIAN RIVIER A  47

The city was also greatly altered Liguria has seen attempts to develop
by House of Savoy archi tects. In the region’s industry, and to adapt
1828 Carlo Barabino built the its ports to the needs of tourism.
Teatro Carlo Felice and, in 1874, Many industries have faced crisis,
construction of the new port however, and Liguria has had more
of Genoa began. It was greatly success in the field of agriculture, in
enlarged again in 1919 and particular the cut-flower industry.
in 1945. Tourism is also, of course, of prime
Perhaps due to Liguria’s The architect importance economically. The
traditional resentment of Renzo Piano building of the motorway in the
Piedmont, the Risorgimento 1960s has increased the speed of
movement, which sought a united Italy, was deve lop ment on both sides of the Riviera,
particularly strong and heartfelt in Liguria. which are crowded with visitors for most of
Giuseppe Mazzini, one of the key leaders, the year. As the coast has become more
was born in Genoa, and it was from Quarto prosperous and, in some cases, very rich (as
(now a Genoese suburb) that Garibaldi’s in Portofino), so the neglected villages of
“Thousand” set sail for the south in 1860. the interior have met a rather diffe rent fate:
Eventually, a united Kingdom of Italy was many people have moved away, while
formed, which Liguria joi ned in 1861. there has also been a historic lack of
investment in the interior.
Tourism and Liguria Today Genoa, on the other hand, has been the
The building of the railway line along focus of attention for more than a decade.
the coast, following the line of the Via The port was revamped (with the help of
Aurelia, represented a crucial stage in the local architect Renzo Piano) in the run-up
future development of the region. The to the celebrations in honour of Columbus’s
smaller towns, such as Bordighera, San “discovery” of America, and more money
Remo, Alassio, Santa Margherita and Lerici, poured in prior to Genoa’s year as European
became popular destinations with a Capital of Culture (2004).
growing number of visitors, largely the
wealthy and the aristocratic of Europe.
In the 1930s Genoa was reshaped by
Mussolini-era demolition in the heart of
the historic centre. Further modifications
were carried out in the 1960s and 1970s.
The ports and harbours of Liguria were
badly damaged during World War II and,
in the valleys and the mountains of the
Apennines, the Resistance fought hard
against German occupation. Postwar Train at the Corniglia station, Cinque Terre

1782
Niccolò 1805 1828 Carlo 1874 1940–45 Genoa is 2004 2007
Paganini Giuseppe Barabino Construction of badly damaged by Genoa is The 10th
is born Mazzini designs Teatro a new port at bombing in World European Annual Genoa
in Genoa is born Carlo Felice in War II Capital of Film Festival is
in Genoa Genoa Genoa begins Culture held in July
1750 1800 1850 1900 1950 2000
1797 The 1815 Liguria Garibaldi
Republic of becomes 1860 The expedition of departing 1992
Liguria is part of the the Thousand departs from Quarto Columbiadi
established Kingdom of from Quarto (Columbus
Sardinia celebrations) Logo of the
held in Genoa Colombiadi

046-047_EW_Italian_Riviera.indd 47 09/09/16 10:43 am