Liguria is a narrow strip of land, enclosed between the sea and the Alps and the Apennines mountains, it is a winding arched extension from Ventimiglia to La Spezia and is one od the smallest regions in Italy (its surface area is of 5431 Km.).
It is limited in size, but not in the variety of its vegetation and wildlife which is amongst the most diversified and interesting in Italy.
The coast-line, which is geographically divided between the Western Riviera and the Eastern Riviera at the sides of important centre of Genoa, from the scenic point of view is characterized by an alternating series of magnificent high coast-lines and flat, sandy coast-lines, whilst in the interior the steep hills meet up with the Apennines peaks.

Liguria has an abundance of natural beauty and the various names given to it such as "Paradise Gulf", "Siren bay", "Bay of silence", "Bay of fairy tales", "Sea's echo" are all a testimony to the magnificent beauty of these marine landscapes.
The host of hotels and seaside facilities ensure that the tourist can enjoy the very best kind of holiday.
As an alternative to a morning spent on the beach there is the possibility of taking a trip into the hills, that are within easy reach as they sweep right down to the coast.

There are numerous small villages, which often boast ruined castles that bear testimony to former glories of noble families, they are strewn arount the interland, and provide a peaceful authentic setting away from the crowds, amongst the friendly hard-working local people.
The ring of hills, lying immediately beyond the coast, together with the beneficial influx of the sea, account for the mild climate the whole year round (with average winter temperatures of 7-10° and summer temperatures of 25-28°) which makes for a pleasant stay even in the heart of winter


Geographical position
Liguria lies between 4058' and 2022' longitude west (from the Montemario meridian) and 43045' and 44044' latitude north (Military Geographical Institute); its surface area is 5416.03 square Kilometres, corresponding to 1.18% of the whole national surface area, with the following subdivision: 3524.08 kilometres mountain (65% of the total) and 891.95 square kilometres hill (35% of the total).

Its shape is that of a thin strip of land, from 7 to 35 Km wide (respectively above Voltri and in the high mountain area around Imperia), on average about 240 Km long, lying in a semicircle around the Ligurian Sea and with convexity facing north; comprised between the sea and the watershed line of the Maritime Alps and the Nothern Apennines, which at some points it crosses (for example in the Savona and Genoa mountains).

Some mountains rise above 2000 m.; the watershed line runs at an average altitude of about 1.000 metres.

The main passes are the Colle di Nava (800 m.), the Colle di Cadibona (450 m.), the Colle dei Giovi (472 m.), the Colle della Scoffera (678 m.) and the Cento Croci pass (1.033 m.). From the watershed line the terrain slopes down to the sea much more sharply than it slopes down on the opposite versant.

The continental shelf, which is very narrow, goes down almost immeditely to considerable marine depths. The coastline is 315 Km long. Except for the Portovenere and Portofino promontories, it is generally not very jagged, and is often high and compact. At the mouths of the biggest watercourses there are small beaches, but there are no deep bays and natural harbours except for those of Genoa and La Spezia.

The hydrographic system is made up of the short watercourses of a torrential kind. In the coastal part the most important are the Roja (in its lower course), the Nervia, and the Magra. On the inland side we find some tributaries of the Po: the two branches of the Bormida, the Scrivia and the Trebbia; there is not much water in these rivers, though the quantity increases greatly in rainy periods.
Administratively Liguria is subdivided into four provinces (Imperia, Savona, Genoa and La Spezia), and into 235 towns and communes (67 in Imperia province, 69 in Savona province, 67 in Genoa province, 32 in La Spezia province).

http://www.regione.liguria.it/inglese/index.html