Arenzano

Arenzano
Country	Italy
region	Liguria
Metropolitan city	Genoa (GE)
Coordinates	44 ° 24 ' N , 8 ° 41' E Coordinates: 44 ° 24 '0 " N , 8 ° 41' 0" E
height	6 m slm
surface	24.6 km²
Residents	11,318 (Dec 31, 2019)
Population density	460 inhabitants / km²
Post Code	16011
prefix	010
ISTAT number	010001
Popular name	Arenzanesi
Patron saint	San Nazario and San Celso
Website	Arenzano

Arenzano ( Ligurian Arensen , Aensèn or Rensèn ) is a city with 11,318 inhabitants (as of December 31, 2019) in the metropolitan city of Genoa .

Arenzano

geography

The city is located on the coast of the Riviera di Ponente in a bay west of the regional capital Genoa . The majority (two thirds) of the communal territory (24.6 km²) is mountainous and the highest altitude is reached at 1,183 meters from the summit of Monte Reixa . The municipality is subdivided into the only district Terralba to which the localities Bicocca , Cantarena , Case Soprane , Gazzo and Terrarossa are added.

The morphology of the territory is remarkable, as some mountain ranges of the Ligurian Apennines come within five kilometers of the coast. The hinterland of the communal land forms with the neighboring communes of Cogoleto and Mele the mountain commune of Argentea and with the lands of Cogoleto, Varazze , Voltri , Sassello , Stella , Tiglieto , Masone , Campo Ligure and Rossiglione the Beigua Natural Park .

history

The Villa Negrotto Cambiaso , seat of the city council

According to historical sources, the first housing estate was built in the first centuries after the birth of Christ under the government of the Roman Empire . The ancient name of the city, Arentianis , indicates that it was owned by the Arentii family .

Like the surrounding towns and villages, Arenzano was closely tied to the fate of the nearby Genoa. In the Middle Ages it suffered various barbarian raids , and in the 10th century it was occupied by the Saracens and turned into a fortress. With the expulsion of these, the city flourished again under the Obertenghi .

In the 12th century, shipbuilding and shipping were the most important economic sectors in Arenzano. This led to contacts with the Genoese colonies on Corsica , on the Black Sea and in the Levant . The territory of the city passed into the possession of the Republic of Genoa very early on and merged with the neighboring town of Voltri to form an administrative unit.

Sources from the Middle Ages indicate the subdivision of Arenzano into two settlement areas: Arenzano sottana and Arenzano soprana (in German: Unter- and Oberarenzano ). The latter could be the present day settlement of Terralba , known for its rich tuff deposits .

Over the centuries, and especially in the 17th century, Arenzano suffered several pirate raids that eventually forced it to fortify the town center. In 1815, like the other Ligurian communities, it became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia , and in 1861 it became part of the Kingdom of Italy.

Demographic development

Attractions

Sacred buildings

the Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Olivette
the Santuario del Bambino Gesù di Praga
the Chiesa dei Santi Nazario e Celso
the Chiesa di San Bartolomeo
the Chiesa di San Martino e Sant'Alessandro Della Pineta
the Chiesa di San Sebastiano
the Oratorio di Santa Chiara

Natural areas

The promenade between Arenzano and Cogoleto

Arenzano is connected to the neighboring municipality of Cogoleto via a beach promenade . This has a cycle path and bears the name of the Genoese songwriter Fabrizio de André . It was built on the old Genoa – Ventimiglia railway line and inaugurated on April 15, 2006.

In the hinterland of the city there is a popular excursion destination with a variety of hiking trails, which, curiously, bears the name Cü du Mundu (in English: butt of the world ).

One and a half nautical miles from the port of Arenzanos to the west is the wreck of the oil tanker M / T Haven . This came on April 14, 1991 off the port of Genoa in disaster and is now a popular diving object.

The sea bed between Arenzano and Punta Invrea has been designated as a special protected area by the Natura 2000 network . There are extensive Neptune grass meadows ( Posidonia oceanica ), which offer various marine animals an ideal habitat. Detected is the presence of sea horse ( hippocampus ranulosus ) Jianzui ( Nerophis maculatus , Nerophis ophidion , Syngnathus ACUs and Syngnathus typhle ) and wrasse ( Symphodus cinereus , Symphodus melanocercus , Symphodus doderleini and Symphodus tinca ).

economy

The disused Luigi Stoppani SpA between Arenzano and Cogoleto

Arenzano's economy is based on tourism . There is a multitude of accommodation options in the city, among which the Grand Hotel from 1915 stands out. This is located a few meters from the city park and the beach mile.

The small tourist port, which is to be further expanded after the port authority has moved, is also of importance for the local economy. In addition to the well-developed tourism sector, Arenzano has a service center located in the Campo zone between Arenzano and the neighboring municipality of Cogoleto.

The company Luigi Stoppani SpA is of historical importance , a chemical factory that produced chromium salt with severe damage to the environment and is now facing demolition. In the past, Arenzano also had a notable paper industry, which was located in the Cantarena valley . Today it is active in the recycling sector.