L’infrastruttura ferroviaria e il cambiamento del paesaggio mediterraneo della Liguria

In the second half of the 19th century, the landscape and natural environment of Liguria underwent profound transformations following the construction of the railway network. Thanks to historical views, paintings, photographs, and contemporary written accounts, it is still possible to reconstruct the appearance of the coastline before this infrastructure and to trace the changes that followed. The railway was designed to improve access to the region and, due to Liguria’s rugged and predominantly mountainous terrain, the route was developed as close to the coast as possible, taking advantage of the relatively flat coastal areas. This decision encouraged both domestic and international tourism, triggering rapid urban growth along the railway line, particularly near the shoreline. This process culminated in the overbuilding of the 1950s to 1970s, which drastically altered the region’s Mediterranean landscape. Today parts of the railway remain single-track, prompting ongoing modernization efforts since the late 20th century. These include expanding the network inland and relocating tracks and stations into tunnels to reduce the impact on the urban and coastal environment. The former coastal routes have been redeveloped with new public waterfronts and soft mobility infrastructure, such as pedestrian and cycling paths, which, especially in western Liguria, extend for tens of kilometers and aim to restore the historical connection between sea, city, and hinterland.