Cipressa, its history

The town of Cipressa is located in Liguria in the province of Imperia and has 1239 inhabitants. To reach the capital it is necessary to travel about 13 km. Cipressa is located on the western Ligurian Riviera. The town consists of its central nucleus and its hamlet of Lingueglietta reaching the coast with the towns of Piani and Aregai. The name of Cipressa is said to derive from the first inhabitants of the place who, fleeing from Cyprus, set off in these areas and arrived on the Aregai beach. Towards the year 1000 the town was destroyed by the corsairs of Frassineto and rebuilt shortly after. The inhabitants of the place lived mainly from agriculture, thanks above all to the Benedictine monks. Around the second half of the 16th century it was invaded by Saracen pirates causing destruction, devastation and raids. The symbol of Cipressa is the Gallinara tower, built in that period, which, being the symbol of the municipality of Cipressa, was included in the municipal coat of arms.