IMPERIA, a city of Liguria, Italy, the capital of the province of Imperia, on the coast of the Ligurian Sea, 46 m. by rail east of Nice and 7o m. south-west of Genoa, 115 ft. above sea-level. The pop. of the commune in 1931 was 28,727. It consists of a picturesque old town on the heights and a modern town of villas on the lower slopes. The principal church is a large structure of 178o with dome rebuilt in 1821. A few remains of the old city walls may be seen. About 2 M. to the north-east on the same bay is Oneglia, with a fine church, S. Giovanni Battista, designed by Gaetano Amoretti, a hospital (1785) and a large prison. It suffered considerably from the earthquake of 1887. Both have small but safe harbours, both-are frequented for sea-bathing, and both are embowered amid olive groves; and the district is famous for the quality of its oil.
Imperia, formerly Porto Maurizio, appears as Portus Maurici in the Maritime Itinerary. After being subject to the marquises of Turin (1 i th century) and of Clavesana, it was sold by Boni face of Clavesana in 1288 to Genoa in return for a yearly payment; in 1354 it became the seat of the Genoese vicar of the western Riviera, and thenceforth shared the fortunes of Genoa.