Dianese Gulf Municipalities
The “Incompiuta”: Coastal Road Diano Marina - Imperia
June 22, 2026
One of the most beautiful walks you can take in the Gulf of Diano is undoubtedly the one along the Incompiuta, the coastal road that connects Diano Marina to Imperia, passing through one of the most picturesque stretches of the coast at the foot of Capo Berta.
Today, it is a path frequented by pedestrians, cyclists, and those who simply want to enjoy the view of the Ligurian Sea. Yet its history is very different from what one might imagine. Behind this curious name lies, in fact, an unfinished project that has been part of the area’s history for decades.
Let's find out where the "Incompiuta" is located, why it's called that, and how it became one of the iconic landmarks of the Riviera di Ponente.
A Preview of the Unfinished Work
Where is the "Incompiuta" in Diano Marina?
The Incompiuta is located between Diano Marina and Imperia, at the foot of Capo Berta. It is a coastal road about 4 kilometers long that runs parallel to the Via Aurelia and offers some of the most beautiful views along this stretch of coastline.
Today, it is accessible on foot and by bicycle and allows you to travel between Diano Marina and Imperia, following the coastline for practically the entire route. On one side, you’ll find rocks, small coves, and beaches; on the other, the typical Mediterranean scrub that characterizes the Capo Berta promontory.
For guests staying in our vacation apartments in Diano Marina, the “Incompiuta” is one of the easiest walks to plan during your stay: it’s close by, offers scenic views, and is perfect for those who want to take their time. Those who prefer to explore it by bike can take advantage of the traditional and electric bicycles available to guests of the agritourism, which are ideal for exploring this stretch of coastline and venturing out onto other trails in the Gulf of Diano.
Why is it called *Incompiuta*?
The name derives from the history of this road itself. The "Incompiuta" was originally conceived as a project for automobile traffic, with the goal of creating a more direct connection between Diano Marina and Imperia at the foot of Capo Berta.
Construction continued for years, but the route faced a series of problems related to the terrain. Landslides, rockfalls, and ongoing stabilization work made it increasingly difficult to complete the project and keep it safe.
As time went on, the original plan was gradually abandoned, and the road was never put into service as planned. This is where the name by which it is still known today comes from: “l’Incompiuta” (The Unfinished).
The view of the Unfinished Cathedral between Diano Marina and Imperia
The Story of the "Unfinished Road": From State Route 449 to the Road That Was Never Completed
Today it is known as a seaside promenade between Diano Marina and Imperia, but the “Incompiuta” was originally conceived for a completely different purpose. Its history spans decades of plans, interrupted construction, and attempts to find a solution to one of the most challenging traffic issues in western Liguria.
The Seawall Project
For many years, the main route connecting Diano Marina and Oneglia—now part of the municipality of Imperia—was the section of the Aurelia Highway that runs along the Capo Berta promontory. However, with the tourism and economic boom of the 1950s and 1960s, that route began to become increasingly congested, especially during the summer months.
To ease traffic congestion, State Road 449 was designed—a new highway intended to connect Diano Marina and Imperia by running along the base of the promontory. The idea was to create a faster and more direct route than the Aurelia, following the coastline just a few meters from the sea.
To carry out the project, major work was carried out along the Capo Berta cliff, including earth-excavation and stabilization work that partially altered the coastline's profile.
In fact, the difficulty of traversing this stretch of coastline is not a recent phenomenon: as early as Roman times, the Via Iulia Augusta bypassed the coastline by running further inland, likely precisely to avoid an area prone to landslides and storm surges.
The 1960s and the First Problems
In the 1960s, ANAS resumed work on the project in earnest, and construction began in earnest. In some sections, the new route followed the path of an old mule trail built by Austrian prisoners during World War I.
However, problems emerged from the very beginning that would prove to be decisive. The road ran at the foot of a rock face prone to frequent landslides and rockfalls. In an effort to mitigate the problem, rockfall protection nets were installed and various stabilization measures were carried out, but the results were not as hoped.
Landslides, storm surges, and the project's abandonment
As the years went by, the situation became increasingly difficult to manage. On the one hand, the instability of the cliff caused constant landslides and necessitated new safety measures; on the other hand, storm surges contributed to putting pressure on the coastal route.
After decades of construction work, rising costs, and problems that were never fully resolved, it became clear that keeping a road open to vehicular traffic at that location would be extremely difficult. In the 1990s, the project was therefore definitively shelved.
What was supposed to become a modern state highway never actually opened as originally planned. Since then, the name "Incompiuta" has remained associated with this stretch of coastline between Diano Marina and Imperia.
An interesting fact: Napoleon and the roads of Capo Berta
When discussing the history of the roads that cross Capo Berta, one sometimes comes across a reference to Napoleon. In reality, the “Incompiuta” is not a Napoleonic project: the plan that would eventually lead to the creation of State Highway 449 actually dates back more than a century later.
The connection to Napoleon, however, relates to the history of the Ligurian coastal road network. Between the late 18th and early 19th centuries, during the Napoleonic era, the idea of improving transportation links along this stretch of coastline was promoted for military, commercial, and strategic reasons.
The Unfinished Monument and the Napoleonic road network thus belong to different eras and projects, but both tell a story that repeats itself over time: the attempt to find a more direct route along a stretch of coastline that is as fascinating as it is difficult to traverse.
From an abandoned road to a bike and pedestrian path
After the original project was abandoned, the Incompiuta remained for years an unfinished road, used only in part and subject to frequent closures due to safety issues on the mountainside.
Starting in the 1990s, however, the municipalities of Diano Marina and Imperia began to envision a different future for this stretch of coastline. The idea was no longer to allow cars to pass through, but to restore the route and make it accessible to pedestrians and cyclists.
In the years that followed, several consolidation and safety measures were carried out, and these efforts continued into the early 2000s thanks to funding from regional and provincial sources. The work was carried out on both the Imperia and Diano sides, with the goal of making the route increasingly accessible.
Today, the "Incompiuta" has been given a new lease on life in a form completely different from what the designers of State Route 449 had envisioned. What was supposed to be a road for automobile traffic has become a bike and pedestrian path overlooking the sea, frequented by residents, tourists, walkers, and cyclists.
The recent reopening of the entire route marks an important step forward for non-motorized transportation along the Riviera di Ponente and fully restores to the community one of the most picturesque views of the coastline between Diano Marina and Imperia.
What to See Along the Incompiuta
In addition to its unique history, the Incompiuta is particularly appreciated for the scenic setting in which it is located. For most of the route, the view stretches out over the Ligurian Sea, offering open vistas of the coastline between Diano Marina and Imperia as you walk.
Along the route, small stretches of beach, sea-sculpted rocks, and coves alternate, characterizing this stretch of coastline at the foot of Capo Berta. The vegetation is typical of the Mediterranean scrub, with pine trees, shrubs, and other species growing along the slope facing the sea.
As you walk toward Imperia, you’ll come across several scenic spots where you can view the coast from an unusual perspective, while looking eastward, you can admire glimpses of the Gulf of Diano and the Capo Berta headland.
One of the most recognizable features along the route is the Scoglio della Galeazza, one of the best-known rock outcrops in the area, located near the Imperia section of the Incompiuta and easily visible during the walk.
Capo Berta and the Protected Seabed
In addition to its historical and scenic appeal, the Incompiuta runs along a stretch of coastline that is also particularly interesting from a naturalistic perspective.
The area between Capo Berta, Diano Marina, and Capo Mimosa is, in fact, protected as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC), a designation that helps protect the habitats and species found both on land and on the seabed.
Along the route, you can see the typical vegetation of the Mediterranean scrub, which covers much of the Capo Berta promontory. The sea, too, is home to a natural heritage of great value: the seabed features extensive meadows of Posidonia oceanica, a marine plant that is essential to the balance of the Mediterranean ecosystem.
Capo Berta and the Sea
"L'Incompiuta" and the Tyrrhenian Cycle Route
In recent years, the Incompiuta has taken on an increasingly important role within the Western Liguria cycling network. What was once an unfinished road project is now one of the most picturesque routes for those traveling on foot or by bicycle along the coast.
The route is, in fact, intended to be part of the Ciclovia Tirrenica, the major cycling route that, once completed, will connect much of Italy’s Tyrrhenian coast. In this context, the section between Diano Marina and Imperia serves as a strategic link for both local travel and slow tourism.
"L'Incompiuta" and Molo Landini
For those who love cycling tours, the Incompiuta offers the chance to ride through one of the most scenic stretches of the Riviera without having to deal with the traffic on the Aurelia, allowing you to enjoy the scenery at a much more relaxed pace.
If you’d like to explore other routes in the area as well, we recommend reading our in-depth article on the bike path between Diano Marina and Andora—another route that’s very popular with those who love to explore the area on two wheels.
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