Lavagna

This article is about the Italian city. For the Argentine politician, see Roberto Lavagna. For the Italian river, see Lavagna (river).
Lavagna
Comune
Città di Lavagna

Coat of arms
Lavagna

Location of Lavagna in Italy

Coordinates: 44°19′N 09°20′E / 44.317°N 9.333°E / 44.317; 9.333
Country Italy
Region Liguria
Province Genoa (GE)
Frazioni Barassi, Cavi di Lavagna, Santa Giulia di Centaura, Sorlana
Government
  Mayor Giuseppe Sanguineti
Area
  Total 13.7 km2 (5.3 sq mi)
Elevation 6 m (20 ft)
Population (30 September 2012)[1]
  Total 12,510
  Density 910/km2 (2,400/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Lavagnesi
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
  Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 16033
Dialing code 0185
Patron saint Madonna del Carmine
Saint day 16 July
Website Official website

Lavagna is a tourist port city in the curving stretch of the Italian Riviera di Levante called the gulf of Tigullio, in the province of Genoa in Liguria. The borgo of Lavagna was an important Ligurian cultural center in the Middle Ages. Today its long straight beach is a summer resort.

Torre del Borgo in Lavagna.

History

Lavagna developed in Roman times as Lavania. According to some historians, it was seat of a countship since Carolingian times. From 1198 it was a fief of the Fieschi family, who used Lavagna as their stronghold in the numerous inner struggles of the Republic of Genoa.

In 1564 it was sacked by the African pirate Dragut. From 1815 it was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and, later, of the Kingdom of Italy.

Main sights

Basilica of Santo Stefano.

Culture

The city recreates neo-medieval festivities annually as the "Torta dei Fieschi", which has been recreating (since 1949) the festivities that surrounded the wedding in 1230 of Opizzo Fieschi, Conte di Lavagna, older brother of Sinibaldo, future Pope Innocent IV, with the Sienese patrician Bianca de' Bianchi. A colorful cortege through the streets reunites the inhabitants of the six medieval quarters (sestieri) of Lavagna, as the gigantic cake is distributed among those in the crowd who have found the matching half of their tickets.

The characteristic shale that provides roofing "slates" in Liguria was traditionally quarried in the Capenardo and S. Giacomo mountains nearby.

People

See also

References

  1. All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Tuesday, January 26, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.