Imperia, Province of Imperia, Liguria

Imperia was created on 21 October 1923 from the merging of two cities, Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, and two historically and geographically distinct territories, by a royal decree which unified in a single "comune" called Imperia (from the name of the Impero stram) eleven pre-existing communes: Borgo Sant'Agata, Caramagna Ligure, Castelvecchio di Santa Maria Maggiore, Costa d'Oneglia, Moltedo, Montegrazie, Oneglia, Piani, Poggi, Porto Maurizio, Torrazza. Each of the places, especially the larger ones Oneglia and Porto Maurizio, have their own history before the fusion.

History of Oneglia - Birthplace of admiral Andrea Doria and writer Edmondo de Amicis derives its name perhaps from an ancient pre-Roman settlement (pagus Unelia) on the hills of Castelvecchio, one of the six "oppida" (fortified settlements) of the Ligurian Ingauni overlooking the river Impero. "Ripa Uneliae" was instead a fishing village by the sea, probably in the area today known today as Peri on the eastern outskirts of the town. Included in the Republic of Genoa, was later a principality of the House of Savoy. From 1796 until 1814 it was occupied by the French, then from 1818 to 1848 was with Sanremo and Nizza (Nice) included in the county and later Province of Nice under the Savoy. In the century Oneglia had regular regular trade exchanges with Marseille, supplyng the olive oil for the famous soap.

History of Porto Maurizio - Probably of Roman origin, in the Middle Ages it was was an independent municipality, bound by tight covenants to the neighboring, powerful Republic of Genoa, and was known throughout the Mediterranean for the production and sale of olive oil. After the Napoleonic period was annexed to Piedmont and then in 1861 merged into the Kingdom of Italy.

Historically, Oneglia concentrated on the food industry (especially oil and pasta), while Porto Maurizio on fishing and tourism, and more recently on the service industry.