Ventimiglia, Border town in Liguria, Italy
Ventimiglia is a town on the Ligurian coast in the Province of Imperia, spreading across both banks of the Roja river. The medieval district sits on the Cavo hill, while modern quarters extend across the surrounding plain toward the French border.
The Romans founded Albintimilium here, which was later destroyed by Germanic invasions. During the Middle Ages residents moved to the Cavo hill, and the town shifted between Genoese and Savoyard control until it became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1861.
The name comes from the Roman settlement Albintimilium, which grew around a Celtic-Ligurian core. The town has a lively market tradition on Friday mornings, when vendors from France and Italy offer their goods along the streets of the old quarter.
The railway station connects the town with French and Italian destinations along the coast. The old quarter on the hill is reached on foot through steep lanes, while the modern lower town is flatter and easier to navigate.
The cathedral in the old quarter has an 11th-century Romanesque portal, one of the oldest surviving entrances in the region. Nearby, a promenade follows the coastline into France, where walkers can cross the border without checks.
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