Ventimiglia
Ventimiglia (in French Vintimille, Latin Album Intimilium or Albintimilium) is a frontier town, commune and episcopal see of Liguria, Italy, in the province of Imperia (formerly in the Province of Porto Maurizio) 130 km W by S of Genoa by rail, and 7 km from the Franco-Italian frontier situated on the Gulf of Genoa, 45 feet above sea-level, having a small harbour at the mouth of the Roia. The population is (2001) 25,151(town); 30,025 (commune).
History
Ventimiglia is the ancient Albium Intemelium, the capital of the Intemelii, a Ligurian tribe which long resisted the Romans, but was forced in 115 BC to submit to Scaurus. In 69 the city was sacked by the army of Otho and Vitellius but recovered to remain prosperous into the fifth century, surrounded by walls with cylindrical towers built at each change of direction.
In the Gothic Wars it was besieged by the Byzantines and the Goths, and later suffered from the raids of Rotharicas, King of the Lombards, but flourished again under King Rodoaldo. In the tenth century it was attacked by the Saracens of Frassineto.
King Berengarius made his son Conrad first Count of Ventimiglia. In 1139 the Genoese attacked it by land and sea and forced it to surrender; the count continued to hold the city and countship as a vassal of the victors. The city rebelled more than once against the Genoese and sided with their enemies. It was thus temporarily held by the dukes of Savoy (1389 and 1746) and King Ladislas of Naples (1410). In general it shared the fortunes of Genoa.
Ecclesiastical history
The most ancient Christian mention of Ventimiglia is the alleged preaching of Saint Marcelinus (Bishop of Embrun), Saint Vincentius and saint Dominus (fourth century).
It is probable that it had a bishop from the fifth century; the first known is Joannes (680). Among his successors were: Cardinal Antonio Pallavicino (1484) and Alessandro Fregoso, both more distinguished as warriors than as clerics; Filippo de'Mari (1519), who restored ecclesiastical discipline; Carlo Visconti (1561), later a cardinal; Carlo Grimaldo (1565), who distinguished himself at the Council of Trent; Girolamo Curlo (1614), who died by poison in Corsica, whither he had been sent as Commissary Apostolic; Gianfrancesco Gandoflfi (1622), who negotiated the peace between Savoy and Genoa; Antonio Maria Bacigaluppi (1773), who converted the episcopal residence into a seminary.
The diocese, which has been suffragan to Genoa since 1775, had in the early 20th century 65 parishes, 96,000 inhabitants, 250 secular and regular priests, 6 houses of religious men, 37 convents of nuns, 3 educational institutions for boys, and 10 for girls; 4 religious periodicals were published in the diocese.
Main sights
Remains of a Roman theatre (first half of the 2nd century) are visible, and remains of many other buildings have been discovered, among them traces of the ancient city walls, a fine mosaic, found in 1852 but at once destroyed, and a number of tombs to the west of the theatre. The ruins of the ancient Albintimilium are situated in the plain of Nervia, 3 miles to the east of the modern town.
The caves of the Balzi Rossi have proved rich in palaeolithic remains of the Quaternary period. Rests of a family of Cro-Magnon men were discovered, with three skeletons belonging to a man, a woman and a child respectively.
Very important architectonically and historically is the ancient medieval city centre, perched on a hill overlooking the new town.
Not to be forgotten are the Giardini Botanici Hanbury (Hanbury Botanical Gardens) surrounding the splendid Villa of Sir Thomas Hanbury, La Mortola. These botanical gardens are the biggest in Italy and among the finest in Europe, boasting many varieties of tropical and sub-tropical species that thrive in this mild climate.
The Church of San Michele is erected on the foundations of a pagan temple.
The present Romanesque Cathedral, with a fifth-century baptistery, is built on the ruins of an earlier Lombard church, and this again on a Roman building, possibly a temple.
The city is also home to a municipal Library hosting the second largest collection of manuscripts and books written during the 17th century in Italy (the biggest collection is in Venice).
Tourism
Ventimiglia is a popular destination during the summer for tourists spending their vacation along the French Riviera.
External links
- http://www.elinguaconsulting.com/ventimiglia_liguria.htm Further description and pictures of Ventimiglia and surroundings]
- Richard Stillwell, ed. Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, 1976: "Albintimilium (Ventimiglia), Liguria, Italy"
- Richard Stillwell, ed. Princeton Encyclopedia of Classical Sites, 1976: "Albintimilium (Ventimglia), Liguria, Italy"