Bonassola

Bonassola ( in Ligurian: Bonasseua ) is a municipality with 942 inhabitants (as at 31 December 2012) in the Italian region of Liguria. Politically it belongs to the province of La Spezia.

Geography

The municipality is located on a small bay of the Riviera di Levante and is surrounded by a range of hills. On the surrounding slopes grow to the typical wine and olive terraces Mediterranean pine trees. Bonassola was built on a five km wide alluvial plain. The municipal territory includes seven historic village centers: in the western section, located on the slopes of Mount Brino the centers Montaretto and Reggimonti; above the bay are San Giorgio, Costella and Serra, and the eastern section, the Monte Rossola, lie Poggio and Scerno.

Bonassola belongs to the Comunità Montana della Riviera Spezzina.

History

Formation

Is first mentioned by name the town Bonassola in a notarized deed of 29 January 1269th However, there are documents from the time of the Roman Empire, where the valley in connection with the Via Ligurum ( "Street of Liguria " ) as already " Vallis Bonazolae " is called. According to the census of the Republic of Genoa from 1531 were the approximately 300 residents of Bonassola mostly sailors and farmers. Exports were, among others, olive oil (mainly to Milan ), wine (mainly to Genoa ) and chestnuts. On May 2, 1560 Turkish pirates raided the community, 53 inhabitants Bonassolas were arrested by the pirates. However, no defense system was built in the coming years.

The population growth of 900 persons in 1670 can be seen in connection with the booming economy, in particular to expand the cultivation of wine, lemons, mulberries and figs. Numerous mills were working in the area between the coast and Montaretto. Due to the rise of shipping, a preliminary climax of the population development was achieved with 1293 inhabitants in the year 1802. In particular, the French occupation (1799 ) and the British naval blockade (1806 ) stressed the development of Bonassola.

19th century

1832 was accidentally discovered marble at road works, its degradation numerous quarry workers brought in the subsequent years in Bonassola. The opening leading through the village railway Pisa -La Spezia -Genoa in 1872 changed Bonassola fundamentally, in particular through the related decline of navigation and the end of the extensive insulation, in which the village had been found.

20th century

In the 20th century agriculture declined drastically, even the marble vein visibly exhausted.

On June 29, 1943, the freighter was Bolzaneto ( 2220 GRT ) bombarded by a British submarine with torpedoes and sunk, the remains of the ship lie at a depth of 40 to 55 meters off the coast of northwest Bonassola. The loaded with pig iron cargo ship was on the way from Marina di Carrara to Genoa.

On March 22, 1944 landed two officers and 13 soldiers of the United States northwest Bonassola at the Bay Sca to destroy tunnels of the railway line. The action of the 2677th OSS was part of Operation Strangle, which aimed to interrupt the flow of material to the front of Cassino.

From 1963 the railway line was double-tracked expanded and moved into the mountain. The population decline in Liguria reached Bonassola. As a new source of income arises tourism, basic infrastructure and retail outlets are available in Bonassola.

On 16 January 1965, the freight train exploded 6178 in the station of Bonassola. From the explosion of holding also in the station commuter train in 1702 was made. A total of nine people lost their lives. There were 48 injured. At the explosion had occurred, when explosives, which were needed for the construction of a railway line in Bonassola Framura inflamed.

Traffic

The town has a railway station on the La Spezia, Sestri Levante and the Cinque Terre tourist attractions can be reached in dense clock sequence. On the disused railway line in 2011, a new bicycle and pedestrian path that connects the towns of Levanto, Bonassola Framura built. In this way the communities are almost gradient freely interconnected.

Pictures of Bonassola

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