Ceriale (, locally Seio) is a comune (municipality) in the Province of Savona in the Italian region of Liguria, located about 70 km southwest of Genoa and about 30 km southwest of Savona. Ceriale borders the following municipalities: Albenga, Balestrino, Borghetto Santo Spirito, Cisano sul Neva, and Toirano.

Geography

The town is located in the Riviera di Ponente, east of the plain of Albenga, on the slopes of Mount Croce, at an elevation of 541 m.

History

The village, an territorial dominion of the bishop of Albenga since the early Middle Ages, was acquired in the 14th century by the Republic of Genoa. In that period the nearby village of Capriolo was abandoned, according to local sources, as a result of an invasion of ants. Following the frequent raids by Saracens on the Ligurian coast, a circular bastion was built adjacent to the beach in 1563; however, the town was again attacked and sacked by Barbary pirates in 1637. Along with other towns of the Ligurian Riviera, in 1764 Ceriale participated in an uprising against the Republic of Genoa, caused by the heavy tax burden. It became part of the Kingdom of Sardinia in 1815, after the fall of Napoleon Bonaparte; and, in 1861, of the Kingdom of Italy. From 1973 until 31 December 2008 Ceriale was part of Ingauna Mountain Community, which was terminated by the Liguria Regional Law Number 23, 29 December 2010.

Main sights

Religious architecture

Amusement parks

Culture

Museums

Events

International relations

Ceriale is twinned with:

Economy

The town's main economic resources are tourism and agriculture. Vegetables and flowers are cultivated, in particular orchids grown in greenhouses. Industries include shipyards and confectionery plants.