Lavagna

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; 9.333Coordinates: 44°19′N 09°20′E / 44.317°N 9.333°E / 44.317; 9.333
Country Italy
Region Liguria
Metropolitan city Genoa (GE)
Frazioni Barassi, Cavi di Lavagna, Santa Giulia di Centaura, Sorlana
Government
 • Mayor Paolo D'Attilio (commissar)
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 UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
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 Metropolitan City 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.

History

Torre del Borgo in Lavagna.

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 Muslim pirate Occhiali, a renegade Christian, who was appointed pasha of Algiers four years later.[2] From 1815 it was part of the Kingdom of Sardinia, and, later, of the Kingdom of Italy.

Main sights

The marina of Lavagna
Basilica of Santo Stefano.
  • Basilica of Santo Stefano (17th century)
  • Basilica of Santa Giulia (1654)
  • Sanctuary of Nostra Signora del Ponte (13th century), with the nearby bridge. It was enlarged by the Fieschi Pope Innocent IV, being consecrated in 1492. It has been largely renovated in the 19th century. According to the tradition, Dante Alighieri crossed the bridge during his voyage to France.
  • Torre del Borgo, a Medieval tower now housing the local art gallery.

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

Mafia Problems

The mayor of Lavagna Giuseppe Sanguineti was arrested on 20 June 2016 due to the involvement of Ndrangheta, the Calabrian mafia, in the disposal of the municipal waste.[3] [4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ All demographics and other statistics: Italian statistical institute Istat.
  2. ↑ Giulio Giacchero, Pirati barbareschi, schiavi e galeotti nella storia e nella leggenda ligure, Genova 1970, p.85.
  3. ↑ http://www.ansa.it/liguria/notizie/2016/06/20/ndranghetaarrestato-sindaco-di-lavagna_b28dec46-dbee-423a-881b-a7c209d13251.html
  4. ↑ http://www.ilfattoquotidiano.it/2016/06/20/ndrangheta-traffico-illecito-di-rifiuti-in-liguria-arrestato-il-sindaco-di-lavagna-e-unex-parlamentare-udc/2845065/


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