Bordighera, Coastal commune in Province of Imperia, Italy.
Bordighera is a coastal town on the Western Riviera that stretches from an old quarter on Cape Sant'Ampelio to modern neighborhoods along the waterfront. The town sits at the base of the Maritime Alps and combines historic architecture with contemporary seaside development.
The town became known through Giovanni Ruffini's novel 'Il Dottor Antonio' published in 1855, which drew English visitors to the area. This literary work sparked the beginning of tourism that reshaped the town's development during the 19th century.
The town maintains an 11th-century church dedicated to Saint Ampelio at Cape Sant'Ampelio, where celebrations occur annually on May 14th during the patron saint festival.
The town sits about 20 kilometers from the French border with good train and bus connections to nearby coastal areas. Year-round services make it easy to reach other Italian and French seaside destinations from here.
During the Napoleonic Wars, a significant naval encounter took place offshore when French batteries engaged HMS Armada on July 23, 1813. This lesser-known event left its mark on the area's history.
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