Ameglia, Province of La Spezia, Liguria

Archeological excavations have discovered an ancient necropolis, probably of the 4th century BC, showing that the area was a transit route from the mountains to the sea. It was later a Roman town, as shown by the remains of a Villa Marittima, and maintained its importance in the Middle Ages. In 963 the Castrum de Ameliae is mentioned as a bishopric seat. In the 13th century it was surrounded by defence wall, and the sighting tower and port were also built. It was for a time ruled by Castruccio Castracani, then came under different families of the area, such as the Doria, Visconti, and Campofregoso.

In the 19th century it was under the jurisdiction of Lerici, then in the 20th century a remarkable tourist development transformed the previously mainly fishing economy. After the Second World War it was a cultural retreat of artists, poets and intellectuals as Giovanni Pintori, Giulio Einaudi, Marguerite Duras, Franco Fortini, Albe Steiner, Elio Vittorini, Italo Calvino.