Alassio
Edited by:
Massimo Martini
Access
Alassio is easily accessible by car via the A10 motorway (Albenga exit), about 80 km from Genoa and 150 km from Nice. The railway station, on the Genoa-Ventimiglia line, offers frequent connections with all major Italian cities. The nearest airport is Genoa airport (90 km), while Nice airport (150 km) provides international connections. The local transport network includes regular buses connecting Alassio with all the towns on the Riviera di Ponente.
Introduction
Located along the Riviera di Ponente (western Riviera), Alassio is a pearl of western Liguria that combines the charm of a refined seaside resort with the charm of an authentic seaside village. With its famous 'Budello' - the picturesque cobbled alleyway that forms the old heart - and the golden beach that stretches for almost 4 km, the town has seduced travellers, artists and writers over the centuries, from Ernest Hemingway to Italo Calvino. Its privileged location, protected behind by hills covered with olive groves and open to the crystal-clear sea, makes it an ideal destination in every season.
Description
Alassio's territory develops in a wide natural inlet bounded to the east by Capo Santa Croce and to the west by the promontory of Capo Mele, with a hilly hinterland that slopes gently down to the sea. Urbanisation is concentrated along the coast, where elegant Art Nouveau palaces, typical Ligurian pastel-coloured houses and modern bathing establishments alternate, while the hillside hamlets of Solva and Moglio retain the traditional appearance of rural Ligurian villages. The landscape is characterised by typical terraces planted with olive trees and vineyards, bearing witness to the centuries-old relationship between man and this land.
The origins of Alassio date back to the 10th century, when a community of Benedictine monks settled on the small island of Sant'Anna (now joined to the mainland). Legend has it that the name derives from Adelasia, daughter of Emperor Otto I, who is said to have found refuge here with her lover. In the Renaissance it became an important centre for coral production, while in the 19th century it became an exclusive tourist destination frequented by the European aristocracy. Among the illustrious personalities linked to Alassio are the writer Giovanni Ruffini, who set the novel 'Il Dottor Antonio' here, and the historian Ferdinando Gabotto.
The local economy is strongly linked to tourism, with accommodation ranging from luxury hotels to characteristic B&Bs, but it also keeps alive productive traditions such as fishing (with the characteristic 'palamito alassino') and agriculture (PDO olive oil and Pigato wines). Handicrafts still boast skilled shipwrights and producers of artistic ceramics, while commerce is concentrated along the famous Via XX Settembre, with its elegant shops.
Alassio's cultural life revolves around events such as the Festa di Santa Croce (14 September), with its evocative procession of illuminated boats, and the Carnevale degli Innamorati, one of the oldest in Italy. The local cuisine celebrates the products of the sea with dishes such as 'buridda' (fish stew) and 'baci di Alassio' (almond paste sweets), while handicrafts are distinguished by glass and coral work. Particularly striking is the Muretto di Alassio, where celebrities and ordinary citizens have left their signatures on ceramic tiles since 1953.
For nature lovers, Alassio offers beautiful trails such as the Sentiero del Golfo, which runs along the coast as far as Laigueglia, and the route that leads to the Santuario della Madonna della Guardia (610 m), with panoramic views of the entire Riviera. The Natural Park of Monte Tirasso is ideal for excursions amidst Mediterranean scrub and ancient terracing, while the seabed at Capo Mele attracts divers from all over Europe. A curiosity: the beach of Alassio was the first in Italy to have equipped bathing establishments, back in 1870.
Information
Area: 17.25km²
Altitude: 6m
Maximum elevation: 595m - Monte Pisciavino
Number of inhabitants: 9,928 as of 31.12.24
Name in dialect: Aràsce (ligure)
Inhabitants name: alassini
Patron Saint: Sant'Ambrogio (7 December)
Bordering municipalities: Albenga, Andora, Laigueglia, Villanova d'Albenga
Website: www.comune.alassio.sv.it