Tourist Information Ventimiglia - (Vintimille)

Ventimiglia

Ventimiglia History

The first permanent settlements in the Ventimiglia area date back to the 6th century B.C. and assume the form of fortifications, the so called "castellari", situated on the ridge separating the Roja and the Nervia valleys, in order to defend and to control the territory. The Ligurian lntemelii dominated for a long time the territory between Arma di Taggia and Monaco and built their main town in Albium lntemelium, situated in the level zone at the foot of Colla Sgarba, near the mouth of the Nervia. The pre-Roman settlement had its greatest expansion in the years between 270 and 180 B.C. and obtained its prosperity probably from sea trade with the neighbouring Greek colonies of Marseilles. The Romans subdued the lntemelii people around 180 B.C. and they placed a military garrison, transformed towards 89 B.C. into a real town called Albintimilium.

The town enlarged in the level area in the south of the ancient pre-Roman centre through a system of rectangular lots and perpendicular streets, according to the usual pattern of the decumani (layouts from West to East) and of the cardini (layouts from North to South). In consequence of the pillage suffered because of Otto in 69 A.D., Albintimilium was rebuilt in the same area occupied in the Republican Age. The theatre was built along the longest decumanus near the older porta di Provenza (gate of Provence), an interesting example of gate with two towers and the area of the forum, still unexploited. Inside, the thermae rose near the present hospital, while beyond the west walls the necropolis extended. Towards the end of the 4th century A.C. the town went through a progressive decline as consequence of the barbarian invasions. Many inhabitants moved to the promontory at the mouth of the Roja, and founded a fortified city (castrum), which opposed for some time the Longobard expansion. The Roman settlement was completely abandoned in the 7th century, after the total occupation of this area by the Longobards; it remained for centuries hidden under heaps of rubbles, and was partly found out again at the end of the last century by the learned man Girolamo Rossi of Ventimiglia. Later, other archaeologists followed him, such as Pietro Baroncelli and Nino Lamboglia, who made systematic excavation works, which outlined more precisely the features of the town. Soundings and researches are still in course. The Byzantine castrum assumed the name of Vintimilium and became one of the main episcopal centres in Liguria. The medieval town developed step by step around it and was ruled by the Counts of Ventimiglia who, besides opposing efficaciously the Saracen expansion (end of the 9th century), assured to the people a period of relative security.

The growth of the town towards the 10th century is evidenced by the rebuilding of the cathedral and by the foundation of the church of San Michele, bestowed in 1041 to the Benedictines of Lerins. Between the l1th and the 12th century, Ventimiglia became a free town and it was subjected by Genoa only in 1251, after many years of strong opposition. During those centuries the town extended probably along the north-east promontory slope creating the quarter Campo (the present Via Garibaldi, Via Giudici, Vico degli Olivi) and the quarter Largo, which dominated a "lake" originated from the Roja in the area close to the present bridge. This ward with the passing of time and with the change of the river's watercourse, disappeared and only the denomination of vico Lago and salita Lago remained. The town was surrounded by walls, which departed from the Counts castle and were interrupted by gates, porta Marina, porta Piemonte, along the road of the Roja Valley, porta Nuova and porta deI Ciouso still remain nowadays.

The Genoese dominion manifested itself with the building of the San Paolo fort overhanging the town, and with the strengthening of Castel d'Appio at Siestro. In the 13th - 14th centuries the town assumed a defined structure with the building of the quarter Oliveto around the church of San Michele. In 1313 the Friars Minor of San Francesco founded a convent near the present porta Nizza (Nice gate), reused in the last century as school building; the Austin Friars instead settled down in Ventimiglia only in 1487 and occupied the area on the left of the Roja's mouth. After a period of insecurity caused by the Franco-Spanish war, beginning from 1529, the Genoese rebuilt the walls, still nowadays intact in the north-east zone. Between the 16th and 17th century Ventimiglia had a period of general renewal of its architecture elements and showed the richness attained by the nobiliary-class. The Palaces of via Garibaldi were rebuilt and enriched by ornaments, while the churches were fitted to the new liturgical demands. In 1668 the convent of the Lateran nuns was built in the territory of the ancient castle. In the 18th century there were no fundamental modifications in the walled village, but this period was characterized by the foundation of several suburban villas with parks and gardens on the slight slopes in the hamlet of Latte.

The big local market in Ventimiglia is every friday from 8 am to 5 pm

PORTA CANARDA

LA CATTEDRALE

In 1797 the town was under the democratic Ligurian Republic rule and was nominated chief district of the Palms' Jurisdiction (Giurisdizione delle Palme), included in the province of Sanremo. Under the Reign of Savoy (1814) Ventimiglia was choosen as fortified town for its strategic boundary position. In that period the fort of the Annunciata was built in the area of the sixteenth century Franciscan convent. At present it is the seat of the Civic Archaeologic Museum "Girolamo Rossi',. thanks to its particular position sheer to the sea we can enjoy a wonderful view over the Riviera and the Cote d'Azur. After the coming of the railway line and the establishment of the international station, opened in 1871, Ventimiglia spread along the plain, gradually bringing there the main public institutions, among which the town hall.

IL CASTEL D'APPIO