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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.
Ventimiglia tourist informations history
Italian Riviera - Ventimiglia Riviera dei Fiori - Liguria Vintimille historie
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The big local market in Ventimiglia is every friday from 8 am
to 5 pm
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.
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.
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