Varazze

Varazze
Comune
Comune di Varazze
Varazze

Location of Varazze in Italy

Coordinates: 44°22′N 8°35′E / 44.367°N 8.583°E / 44.367; 8.583Coordinates: 44°22′N 8°35′E / 44.367°N 8.583°E / 44.367; 8.583
Country Italy
Region Liguria
Province / Metropolitan city Savona (SV)
Frazioni Alpicella, Cantalupo, Casanova, Castagnabuona, Deserto, Faje, Invrea, Pero
Government
  Mayor Giovanni Delfino (The People of Freedom - Northern League)
Area
  Total 48.0 km2 (18.5 sq mi)
Elevation 5 m (16 ft)
Population (31 December 2008)[1]
  Total 13,746
  Density 290/km2 (740/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Varazzini
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 17019
Dialing code 019
Patron saint St. Catherine of Siena
Saint day April 30
Website Official website
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Varazze.

Varazze (pronounced [vaˈraddze; vaˈrattse]) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region Liguria, located about 30 kilometres (19 mi) west of Genoa and about 11 kilometres (7 mi) northeast of Savona in the Riviera di Ponente. Nearby in the Ligurian Apennines is the Monte Beigua with its Natural Regional Park.

Economy is mostly based on shipyards and tourism.

History

The burgh grew around the former Roman station named Ad Navalia. In the Middle Ages Varazze was disputed between Savona and Genoa, due to its notable ships production. In 1227 it became an independent commune but, after a short seigniory of the Malocello, it was sold to the Republic of Genoa in 1290.

In 1525 Hugo of Moncada, admiral of emperor Charles V, was defeated here in a naval battle and taken prisoner. Varazze followed the history of Genoa until it was captured by French troops in 1798. In 1815 it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia and, from 1861, of the newly unified Kingdom of Italy.

Main sights

The so-called Passeggiata Europa ("Europa Stroll") is a naturalistic path running on the former Genoa-Ventimiglia railway (closed in 1970), connecting Varazze to Cogoleto. It passes through rocky Maquis shrubland landscape including Aleppo Pine vegetation, and overlooks a series of small sea harbours housing rich wildlife.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Varazze is twinned with:

Notable people

People from Varazze include:

References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 2/20/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.