Moneglia

Topography

The village is placed on the eastern Ligurian Riviera, at the mouth of Petronio valley, about 56 kilometres (35 miles) east of Genoa, which is the last town of the province.

The village is located inside a large bay bounded by two capes, both rich in Mediterranean vegetation: Punta Moneglia in the west and Punta Rospo in the east. While the first is completely wild and accessible only by trail, the second has several residential areas to the village of Lemeglio.

The municipality includes, in addition to the main village, the frazioni of Bracco, Casale, Camposoprano, Comeglio, Crova, Facciù, Lemeglio, Littorno, San Lorenzo, San Saturnino and Tessi.

It is bordered to the north by the municipality of Castiglione Chiavarese, to the south is washed by the Ligurian sea, to the west by the municipality of Casarza Ligure and Sestri Levante and to the east by municipality of Deiva Marina, in the province of La Spezia.

Climate

Moneglia has a Mediterranean climate. The Climatic Classification is "zone D, 1547 GR/G". The summers are quite hot during the day and fresh in the night. The winters are usually quite warm and the temperature rarely goes below zero.

Main sights

Tourism

The most important economic resource is tourism, Moneglia offers its visitors a variety of attractions. It has wide sandy beaches, many rocky beaches and a large number of small bays accessible only by sea. Many are the nature trails in the hills around the country. The rocky coast of Moneglia is also famous for the presence, in certain areas, of a climbing wall systems.

History

The village, already inhabited in pre-roman times by Ligurians, became an important centre during the Roman Age thanks to its strategic position on Via Aurelia. In the seventh century AD Ligury was conquered by king Rothari and next by the Longobard king Liutprando who favoured the spread of the Monasticism. Charlemagne gifted the land and the port to the Monks Columban. In the Middle Ages Moneglia, along with other villages of eastern Liguria, was invaded by Saracen pirates who sacked it. The feud Moneglia was administered up to 1153 from the nobles Fieschi from Lavagna (Lavagna is a city of 12,510 citizens near Genoa) and then became administered by the Republic of Genoa. In 1284 Moneglia participated with its ships at the victorious battle of Meloria, where Genoa won against the Republic of Pisa. According the tradition Genoa donated to the community of Moneglia some pieces of the port of Pisa chain as thanks for their contribution to the victory. In the 16th century Moneglia was elected by Genoa as capital of the surrounding area. In 1815 Moneglia was incorporated at the Kingdom of Sardinia, after the Congress of Vienna; in 1861 became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Cuisine

The main product of this land is Ligurian olive oil, which has obtained in recent years the PDO "Riviera Ligure di Levante". The cultivation of olive trees has allowed, over the past decades, the emergence of several mills where the production, especially a family, is now widespread. Moneglia oil goes well with fish dishes and Mediterranean diet, of which the Ligurian cuisine is perhaps the ultimate expression.

Notable people

Main events

Roads

The village center of Moneglia is crossed by the main coastal road that allows the connection to the west with Sestri Levante via Riva Trigoso and to the east with Deiva Marina, in the province of La Spezia. The nearest motorway junctions are Sestri Levante and Deiva Marina on the Autostrada A12.

Further links are the provincial roads n° 55 "of Moneglia" and n° 68 "del Facciù", which are connected, on the hills behind the village, both to the north with the SS1 Aurelia.

National rail

Moneglia has a railway station on the railway line Genoa-La Spezia-Pisa. Convenient connections with Milan, Genoa, La Spezia, Cinque Terre and the others villages of Ligurian riviera.

Twin towns — Sister cities

Moneglia is twinned with: