Noli
Welcome to Noli: an ancient Ligurian town
Hello everyone! Today we will talk about a very charming town in Liguria: Noli. With its 2429 inhabitants, Noli is located in the province of Savona and was the capital of the Republic of Noli from 1192 to 1797. But let's go in order and discover a little more about the city.
The geography of Noli
Noli is located on the coast of the Riviera di Ponente and is closed to the east by the Island of Bergeggi and to the southwest by the homonymous cape at the mouth of the Luminella stream. The position of the city is strategic, as it was well defended by the ancient Ligurians thanks to its geographical location.
The history of Noli
Noli has an ancient history: in fact, it was already an important seafaring center in Roman times. However, the foundation of the city is not entirely certain: there are several theories, but it is known for certain that the city was founded three times. The first time was on the top of Mount Ursino, where the homonymous castle stands, the second time in the area near the church of San Paragorio and the third time within the current walls.
In the Middle Ages, Noli was an imperial Byzantine base and, becoming the domain of the Lombards, who destroyed it in 641, was completely rebuilt near the sea. It was then also dominated by the Franks of Charlemagne.
In 1099, Noli participated in the first crusade and received political and commercial privileges from Baldwin I of Jerusalem, feudal lord Bohemond I of Antioch and Tancred of Sicily. Later, the city became an important seafaring center, with a prepared and numerous naval fleet, on par with other large seafaring centers of Liguria.
In 1193, Noli became a communal age (one of the first after Genoa and Savona) and a free Republic of Noli with municipal statutes and ordinances, considered among the oldest in Liguria. In the medieval era, Noli was a very important city, which enjoyed a certain formal autonomy.
Noli: an independent city
Noli was an important commercial city and more. Its independence from other local centers of power was guaranteed by political and commercial alliance with the Republic of Genoa, starting from 1202. This agreement was made "on equal terms between the parties", that is, without one prevailing over the other.
In the acts of the time, preserved in the municipal historical archive, this agreement was mentioned, which opened up enormous commercial and cultural exchange opportunities for the city of Noli.
Conclusions
I hope this brief guide to Noli has intrigued you and that you have the desire to take a tour of this ancient city in Liguria. Noli is a city that has managed to maintain its local identity and pride over time, even though it is less important today than in the past. However, the beauty of the city and the friendliness of its inhabitants will surely leave you with a memorable memory.
