ALASSIO ALBENGA and BAIE DEL SOLE - Provincia di Savona

ALASSIOALBENGA andBAIE DEL SOLEa holiday for children and grown-up1

Alassio,Albenga andBAIE DEL SOLEThe stretch of coast from Ceriale to Capo Mele offers large beaches of veryfine sand. The sea is shallow and, walking in it, it is almost possible to walktowards the horizon and that can be enjoyed all year round. In the winter astroll along the shore picking up sea shells can be a real treat. It is the onlyarea of Liguria which has a plain, the Piana del Centa. Visitors can try andtaste unique and genuine products, rich in the flavours and aromas which makethe local food so special.Ancient Romans had already chosen this part of the world as it is deeplyconnected to a portion of sea which proved to be an incredible opportunity oftrade. It was a menace, also, due to the moors invasions. Still today, it has alot to offer to those seeking town streets animated with busy market as well asquiet and peaceful idyllic inland spots.Each town has a table as synopsis of value in terms of Tourism.Marks are given for Nature, Art and Family to synthesize what is on offer.Outdoors/NatureThe marks are based onnatural resources andlandscape, including sportsfacilities and excursions. Inother words what goes tomake an ”active holiday”ArtMarks are based on relevantresources concerning Artand History, includingdedicated itinerary(museums, monuments, etc.)FamilyMarks are based on servicesoriented for families,including accommodationand attractions suitable forchildren and grown-ups.2 3

THE PLEASUREOF DISCOVERY4 5

The flavourof tradition6 7

Wherehorticulturedoublesas culture8 9

WAVESOF FUN10 11

CALMNESSHAS THECOLOURSOF SEA12 13

CerialeA history of pirate invasionsNot far from Albenga, rooted in the fertile plain of the CentaRiver, is the town of Ceriale which in ancient times was ahamlet of farmers ruled by the Bishop of Albenga, then by theRepublic of Genoa. The night between 1st and 2nd July, 1637was a momentous turn of its history. The town was attackedby 800 Algerian pirates who kidnapped and killed half of theinhabitants, leaving only burning ruins behind them. On thepromenade, a fortified watch tower built in 1564 still bearstestimony to the defensive architectures meant to keep themoors and pirates at bay. The parish church of SS. GiovanniBattista and Eugenio in the historical centre of the town iscertainly worth a visit.Amonggreenhouses andopportunities forrelaxationThe town, in line withits history, still preservesa horticultural vocation.Glasshouses, cultivatedfields and vineyardsyield vegetables, highlyappreciatedgrapes, pottedherb plants and potted plantsin general.In Ceriale it is possible torelax and have fun at thesame time. The water themepark of Le Caravelle, openfrom June to September,makes Ceriale one of themost attractive places on thecoast. It is a new generationtype of park with aswimming pool with waves,toboggan, rapids, Jacuzzis,slides and all the servicesvisitors may require.Archaeology andcultureVisitor should not miss thehamlet of Peagna, the ChiesaVecchia, with its XV Centuryfrescoes and a medievalspring called Anthia. In theMuseum of PalaeontologySilvio Lai, finds from thesites of Rio Torsero, todaya Regional Natural Reservecan be admired.Every year, in August andSeptember, a Book Fair isheld where new publicationson Liguria are presented andliterary evenings with theauthors can be enjoyed.Useful InfoMuseum of PalaeontologySilvio Lai. Regional NaturalReserve of Rio TorseroVia Strada Nuova di Peagna, 209Fraz. Peagna 17023 CerialeTel. 0182 990024 / 990208sporteturismo@comune.ceriale.sv.itwww.riotorsero.itWater Theme ParkLe CaravelleVia S. Eugenio, 5117023 CerialeTel. 0182 931755info@lecaravelle.comwww.lecaravelle.comTouristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily14 15

AlbengaThe ancient Albium IngaunumThe ancient Ligurian town called Albium Ingaunum wasfounded on a hill near the Centa River. It soon became animportant Roman centre. Then, in the IX Century it becamethe capital of the Marquisate of Arduin and Episcopal See. Along spell of prosperity coincided with its participation, as afree town, in the first crusade. Visitors to Albenga can enjoyan unspoilt historical centre where the ancient Roman layoutis still visible. Its small squares host numerous markets as wellas events where local products and antique pieces can bepurchased.The historicalcentreVisits can start in LargoDoria, a small square at thejunction of a long lindenflankedavenue (Viale Martiridella Libertà), which leadsto the sea front, and ViaEnrico D’Aste, the ancientdecumanus of the old Romantown.Piazza San Michele hasalways been the centre ofthe civil and religious lifewith its XV Century PalazzoPeloso Cepolla with a XIIcorner tower, the Town Hallwith the tower-house of theMalasemenza family and theold Town Hall building datingback to the XIV Centurywith the Municipal Towerwhere important exhibitionsare often hosted. Only sevenof the original twelve towersstill stand.The Baptistery is one of themost relevant paleochristianmonuments in Liguria.Inside, a mosaic of the VCentury dedicated to theHoly Trinity and the Apostles.Near the Baptistery, youcan find the XIII CenturyRomanesque Gothic Cathedralof San Michele with itsXIV Century steeple. Behindthe Cathedral, the Piazza deiLeoni with the Palazzo Costadel Carretto di Balestrino of1525 and the tower-houseCosta. The high street thenbecomes Via Ricci with theLoggia dei Quattro Canti andmore tower-houses.Out of the town, throughPorta Molino to the east,a medieval bridge of XIIICentury, called Pontelungo,half buried in the ancientriverbed of the Centa, can beadmired.The Museums ofAlbengaPalazzo Oddo, in via Roma,hosts Magiche Trasparenze- Magical Transparencies– a permanent exhibitionof about 200 antique glasspieces form the Albenganecropolis. The extraordinaryBlue Plate from the IICentury AD is a unique findand obviously the gem of theexhibition.The Palazzo Vecchio delComune is where the CivicoMuseo Ingauno is hosted andwhere artefacts dating backto the Roman and Byzantineancient Albingaunum can beadmired. The Loggia Civica,an integral part of the historicalvisit, was built in 1421,with a mosaic floor of ICentury AD and on the backwall a large fresco of theCrucifixion from the end ofthe XV Century by GiovanniCanavesio.The Museo Navale Romano– Roman Naval Museum –can be found in the PalazzoPeloso Cipolla. Visitorscan see amphorae usedfor storing wine and toolsretrieved from the wreck of aroman ship of the I CenturyBC, sunk off the coast ofAlbenga. The museum alsocontains a precious collectionof pharmacy vases, oncein the custody of the Hospitalof Albenga, which are typicalexamples of the ceramictradition of Savona andAlbisola in the XVI-XVIIICenturies. The Museo diArte Sacra della Diocesi diAlbenga-Imperia - Museumof Church Art of the Dioceseof Albenga-Imperia –, in theBishop’s Palace, containsartefacts from the digs inthe Cathedral area, i.e.Renaissance ceramic pieces16 17

and fragments of largerpictures from the XV andXVI Centuries, late gothicpaintings on wood boardsand XVII Century paintingson canvass such as the altarpiece the Martyrdom of SaintCatherine of Alexandria byGuido Reni.Just outside the walls, invia Mameli, the EsposizionePermanente Civiltàdell’Olivo is a permanentdisplay of tools and articles,dating back to the mid XIXCentury, which were usedfor harvesting and processingolives and grapes.The Plain and itsdelicaciesThe main reason for thehistorical importance ofAlbenga has always beenits extremely fertile plainwhich is the result of thecombination of river and seasedimentation processes.Though the Romans were alreadyexploiting it, it was thearrival of farmers from thearea of Genoa during the lateXIX Century that coincidedwith a rational and intensivehorticultural approach. Ahighly specialised production,both in the fields and inglasshouses, can boast fourtypical produces: spiky artichokes,trombetta courgettes,cuore di bue tomatoes andpurple asparaguses – the latteris a Slow Food presidium.The plain and the hills ofAlbenga have a great reputationfor the DOC – ControlledDesignation of Origin– quality of its vineyards.Rossese di Campochiesais a red wine, dry but light,ideal with fish. Vermentinois a delicate white superb foraperitifs and with fish andvegetables. Pigato, from thelocal word pigau (spotted),is a musk-scented dry white.In the village of Salea, everySeptember, Pigato wine iscelebrated and enjoyed.Julia Augusta.A Roman RoadVisitors can also explorethe hillside along a path thatleads to the town of Alassio,the extraordinary ViaRomana Julia Augusta. A sixkm path, overlooking the sea,which bears testimony to theancient splendour with somemargines still visible today.It might have been a consularroad, built by EmperorAugustus in 13 BC. The pathstarts in the Regione Vadino,near the funerary monumentcalled the Pilone, now part ofthe Punta San Martino buildings.The ruins of some ofthe ancient roman structurescan still be admired.Sea and NatureNot just history. Sea and fun,too. Leaving behind the oldroman and medieval town,Albenga becomes a completelydifferent place. Streetwith shops, a palm flankedsea front promenade withorganised private beachesready to satisfy a tourist’severy need. Just by walkingon the shore, it is possibleto reach the sanctuary at themouth of the Centa River, anideal area for bird watchingon account of several birdvarieties present here. Rightin front, the Gallinara Isleis clearly visible with a seawhere it is possible to go divingand explore the sea bankand several ship wrecks.The Gallinara IsleAccording to the Romanlegend, this rather smallisland, whose shape is reminiscentof a tortoise, owes itsname to wild chickens oncecommon on it. San Martinof Tours sought refuge there.Later on, hermits chose it astheir dwelling. In the HighMiddle Ages, a powerfulBenedictine monastery wasbuilt there and in the year1000 it ruled several areasand priories along the Riviera,Provence and Catalonia.Over the centuries, themonastery became a privateproperty. A watch out tower,in perfect condition, stillstands on the island’s highestpeak. The Gallinara todayis private and no one livesthere. Since 1989 it has beena Regional Natural Reserve,on account of its plants,some of which native to thearea, and its surrounding seafloors.Useful InfoMagiche Trasparenze.I Vetri dell’antica AlbigaunumMagical Transparencies.Glasses of the AncientAlbingaunumPalazzo OddoVia Roma, 5817031 AlbengaTel. 0182 571443info@palazzooddo.itwww.palazzooddo.itCivico Museo IngaunoMuseum of the Town of AlbengaPalazzo Vecchio del ComuneVia Nino Lamboglia17031 Albengatel. 0182 51215ingauna.iisl@uno.itwww.palazzooddo.itMuseo Navale RomanoRoman Naval MuseumPalazzo Peloso CepollaPiazza San Michele, 1217031 AlbengaTel. 0182 51215ingauna.iisl@uno.itwww.palazzooddo.itMuseo Diocesano e Battistero.Diocesi di Albenga e ImperiaMuseum of the Dioceseand Baptistery.Diocese of Albenga and ImperiaVia Episcopio, 517031 AlbengaTel. 0182 50288museodiocesano@albengaimperia.chiesacattolica.itMuseo Sommariva Civiltàdell’Olivo – SommarivaOlive Tree Civilisation MuseumVia Mameli, 717031 AlbengaTel. 0182 559222www.oliosommariva.itTouristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily18 19

The Valleysof AlbengaA network of four ValleysIn the XIII Century, Albenga witnessed a completereorganisation of the area surrounding the town. New clustersof houses were created to protect the Plain and to improverural activities. New fortified centres and rural communitieswere started. All places which today preserve their medievalcharm. Along the many valleys of the tributary rivers, to theCenta River, it is possible to visit the strategic areas chosen byaristocratic families of the time for their castles and fortifiedhouses.Villanova d’AlbengaFortified in 1215 by Albengato protect the Plain, the villanova has a polygonal layoutwith beautifully preservedsurrounding walls and tentowers. In the middle of thehigh street, a typical well ofthe time can still be admired.It has its original medievallid and chain. Outside, theRenaissance Church of SantaMaria del Soccorso or dellaRotonda and Santo Stefanoin Cavatorio with a Romanesquesteeple of the XIICentury, porch with capitalsand frescoes of the XV andXVI Centuries.The international airportClemente Panero is nowfully operational for privateand public air service.Also available are activitiessuch as powered flying,hang-gliding, parachuting,recreational flying and modelaeronautics.GarlendaSurrounded by the green areaof the Val Lerrone, Garlendais a quiet and elegant resortnot far from the coast. Since1965 a famous Golf Club hasbeen open here with a six km18 hole course. Not far fromthe club, the small church ofSan Rocco is worth a visit– on its grounds, a remarkableseveral hundred yearold oak tree, now a nationalmonument, as well as theCosta-Del Carretto castle,where, nowadays, exhibitionsand events are held. Aunique place is the MuseoMultimediale della 500,run and created by the ClubItalia-FIAT 500. It is a multimediamuseum appealingto those who appreciate thissmall car as well as old carsin general or simply wouldlike to know more about animportant part of the historyof Italy. It is dedicated to thememory of Dante Giacosa,the designer of the 500 Fiatcar. Every July, the Club Italiaorganises an internationalrally for 500 Fiat cars whichcome here from severalEuropean and non Europeancountries.The Neva Valleyand its castlesThe town of Cisano SulNeva, fortified by Albenga in1280, still preserves part ofits ancient wall and a tower,today the steeple of the SantaMaria Maddalena Church.Outside the small town,visitors should really visit thesmall Romanesque church ofSan Calocero, a martyr whofound his death at the mouthof the local River Centa, anddates back to the XI Century.Full of atmosphere is alsothe hamlet of Conscente withthe castle of the Costa familyfrom Albenga. Further up theVia del Sale, which in oldtimes went up the Neva river,is located the small town ofZuccarello, founded in 1248by the marquises of Clavesanaand later the property of theDel Carretto family. The townstill preserves its medievallayout with two main entrances,porticoes in the styleof Piedmont’s urban centres,a humpbacked bridge and thesmall church of Sant’Antoniowith XV Century frescoes.Ilaria del Carretto was bornin the castle at the top of thehill. In 1403, she marriedPaolo Guinigi, Lord of Lucca.Jacopo della Quercia madea funereal monument for herwhich can still be admired inthe Duomo di Lucca.Castelvecchio di RoccaBarbena is a village full of at-20 21

mosphere. Houses are literallyperched on the rocks roundthe ancient medieval castleof the Clavesana family. It isvery pleasant to walk amongthe houses with their typicaldomed roofs and terraces,walls meant to collect rainwater,chestnut houses, communalovens and fountains. In thesquare of the Tower, concertsand theatrical plays areorganised. At the beginning ofsummer, the village becomesa sort of Toyland and hostsspecial events for children andgrown-ups. Castelvecchiohas been awarded a BandieraArancione of the TouringClub, in recognition of itshigh standards of quality, andtogether with Zuccarello isnumbered among the MostBeautiful Villages in Italy.Further up the valley, thescattered hamlets formingthe community of Erli, onthe border with the RegionPiedmont, can be enjoyed withits orchards, vineyards andchestnut trees.The dolomiticVal PennavaireThe valley caves – arme– were already used bythe prehistoric man. It is avalley with a typical alpinelandscape, i.e. dolomiticrocks rich in sea fossils andmountain grazing grounds.Further up, through thickgroves of olive, cherry andchestnut trees, visitors canreach Nasino, the old RomanNaticium, popular with thosewho enjoy going mushroompicking and a starting pointfor excursions to MountGalero. Further along, thetown of Castelbianco, withits scattered hamlets, amongwhich is the noteworthyColletta, a pleasant medievalcentre perched on the hilltopand one of the Most BeautifulVillages in Italy. Thoughdestroyed by an earthquake,it was completely rebuilt inthe 1990’s to become the firsttelematic centre in Europe.Its stone houses are madeeven more attractive by smallornamental gardens. Windowsand doors are paintedlavender and from its smallbalconies breathtaking viewscan be enjoyed. Castelbiancois where a big and lusciouslydark variety of cherries isproduced, celebrated andpromoted during a dedicatedevent every year.The low ValleArroscia and itswinesThe Pigato wine is a hubof excellence in Ortovero,a member of the Towns ofWine. Its Oenological Centre– Regional Specialised Shop- hosts annual events intendedto promote this wine, which,together with the Rosseseand Vermentino wines, addsthe final touch to the list ofwines produced in the westof Regione Liguria. Arnasco,immersed in olive groves,is the home of the Museodell’Olivo e della Civiltà Contadina– Museum of the OliveTree and of Traditional FarmActivities. The CooperativaOlivicola, besides runningthe museum, runs courses onhow to build and repair thetraditional low walls whichrequire no concrete or mortarin strict accordance with theancient technique developedin Liguria.In the direction of Onzo, nearthe woodland area of the smalllake of Menezzo, visitors canreach on foot the Castell’ErmoMountain, which is 1092mabove sea level. Its medievalcentre purchased its independencefrom Genoa in 1581 forthe amount of 5,000 scudi.Independence, which was lostwhen Napoleon conquered it.Vendone is divided into ninehamlets. One of them is Castellaro,where the ruins of themedieval castle of the Clavesanafamily with a hexagonaltower are still visible. Reallyworth a visit is the stone sculpturepark, very reminiscent ofCeltic monoliths, work of theGerman artist Riener Kriesterwho had his home in theSaracen Tower.Val Lerrone, thevalley of the Windis BlowingInland of Garlenda is situatedthe Val Lerrone with its pinetrees, meadows and oaks. Avalley which ends up in theGinestro pass. The territoryof Val Lerrone is rich in olivetrees. It was also an importantarea for the antifascistmovement – la Resistenza– during World War II. Itis celebrated by the pathwhich shares its name withthe famous song “Fischia ilvento” – the wind is blowing– which was written by thepartisan Felice Cascione.Useful InfoInternational AirportClemente PaneroViale Generale Disegna17038 Villanova d’AlbengaTel. 0182 582033info@rivierairport.itwww.rivierairport.itIppodromo dei FioriFiori RacecourseStrada per Ligo, 417038 Villanova d’AlbengaTel. 0182 582666info@ippodromodeifiori.comwww.ippodromodeifiori.comMuseo Multimedialedella 500Dante GiacosaMultimedia Museumof the Fiat 500 Dante GiacosaVia Roma, 9017033 GarlendaTel. 0182 582282museo@500clubitalia.itwww.500clubitalia.itGolf Club GarlendaVia del Golf, 717033 GarlendaTel. 0182 580012www.garlendagolf.itMuseo dell’Olivo e dellaCiviltà ContadinaMuseum of the Olive Tree andTraditional Farm ActivitiesPiazza IV Novembre17032 ArnascoTel. 0182 761178info@coopolivicolarnasco.itwww.coopolivicolarnasco.itCentro Enologico EnotecaRegionaleOenological Centre – RegionalSpecialised Wine ShopViale alla Chiesa, 1817037 Ortoveroinfo c/o ComuneTel. 0182 547388Touristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily22 23

AlassioThe old ArasceThe first inhabitants of Alassio, Arasce in the local dialect,came from the hills during the High Middle Ages and becamefishermen of the bay between the capes of Santa Croceand Mele. First, the monks of the Gallinara Isle ruled it and,then, those of Albenga. Alassio enjoyed a great prosperityunder the influence of the Republic of Genoa. The town stillpreserves traces of its past, i.e. the Palazzo of the marquisesFerrero de Gubernatis di Ventimiglia, in the piazzetta Ferrero.A magnificent building from the XVIII Century, with richlydecorated rooms, which is still the home of the descendentsof the same aristocratic family. The gardens, now dedicatedto Charlie Chaplin, used to be part of the park surroundingthe Palazzo.The English inAlassioA mild climate and anunspoilt landscape were whatpersuaded English peoplelike the Hanburys, Gibbs,Montagues, Macmurdoes andmany more aristocratic familiesto build their villas onthe hills of Alassio. In thosedays, the English formed areal Anglo-Saxon community,with an Anglican Churchin Via Adelasia (currentlydeconsecrated and splendidlyrestored, used for exhibitionsand prestige events), banksand shops. It was thanks tothis community that Alassiobecame a prestigious internationalresort. The first hotelsare clearly Art Nouveau aswell as the Casino, railwaystation, the exclusive TennisClub and several tea-rooms.A short walk in thecentreVia XX Settembre and viaVittorio Veneto are typicalelements of a traditional Ligurianhistorical centre. Theyform the Budello, a long andnarrow lane which runs parallelto the sea between ancientbuildings and modern shops.Other lanes, called esci, runperpendicular to the sea.Alassio has several importantchurches. The most importantone is the parish Churchof Sant’Ambrogio, in thesquare of the same name,built in the XV Century onwhat was left of an older XCentury church. The church’sblack stone portal andRomanesque-Lombardsteeple make it unique. Itsinterior baroque decorationshave been enriched by theworks of illustrious Ligurianpainters, i.e. Giovanni AndreaDe Ferrari, Giulio Benso andBernardo Castello.In the Budello, the churchesof Sant’Anna and San Maurodella Carità can be visited.Not far away, is also locatedthe small church of the CapuchinFriars devoted to SaintFrancis. In the vicinity, infront of the sea, is the fortifiedwatch tower of the XVICentury. It used to protect thetown from Saracen invasions.Not just paintingsThe West Gallery is certainlyworth a visit. It is the homeof the works by the painterRichard Whateley West, wholived in Alassio from 1888.The building also hosts anEnglish Library, one of themost important libraries inEnglish in Italy. The Pinacoteca- Art Gallery - CarloLevi can be found in thePalazzo Morteo and contains22 works by Carlo Levi, awriter and painter from Turin.The Museum of Natural SciencesDon Bosco, created in1950 on the school premiseswith the same name, offersseveral sections ranging frommineralogy to palaeontology.The “Muretto”In Via Dante, just oppositethe Caffè Roma, the famousMuretto di Alassio can befound. Since the 1930s, CaffèRoma has been an epitome oftourism in Alassio with artistsand celebrities being regularcustomers here. In 1950’s,the owner of the Caffè, thepainter Mario Berrino, toadorn the small wall in frontof his business, started stick-24 25

ing on it small ceramic tileswith the names of his mostfamous punters. At first, tileswere placed at night, not toincur a fine. However, theysoon gained the respect andcuriosity of the public. ErnestHemingway was one ofthe first names to be added.Nowadays, the signatures ofmany celebrities can be foundon tiles, e.g. Mina, DomenicoModugno, Fabrizio De Andrèand Valentino Rossi (Italiancelebrities from the fields ofshow business and sport).The Muretto is also the testimonialto a beauty contestwhich takes place everyyear in summer. It started asnothing more than a game inthe distant summer of 1953,steeped in the dolcevita andeconomic prosperity of thetime. The girl who winsbecomes the most beautifulgirl of the summer. The finalpart of the contest of MissMuretto is usually broadcaston Italian national televisionsand often marks the beginningof a successful careerin show business for thewinning girl.Alassio.A place to enjoyAlassio enchants visitors withits golden beaches coveredin extra fine sand made ofminiscule quartz particles.Elegantly organised privatebeaches can be easily foundthanks to the distinctivecolours – each one has theirown cabins and sun umbrellas.Bars and restaurants,on the sea front, offer localdelicacies while the sweetshops of the centre sell Bacidi Alassio, a local chocolate.Worth trying are the Biscette,anise seed flavoured pancakesin the shape of a small snakewhich plays a fundamentalrole in a traditional festivalheld in the village of Solva.Alassio meets a visitor’severy requirement, regardlessof their age. Familieswith children favour Alassiobecause of its shallow sea. Itsclimate makes it popular withthose who wish to spend awinter in a relaxing and quietway.It is a winner with youngpeople too. They flock to it,drawn by the local movidawith its open air dancingclubs and bars. Thosewho love sports can takeadvantage of the CircoloNautico- Nautical Club - nearthe marina, of a swimmingpool, a pitch and putt gameon the promenade, the TennisClub and several paths on thesurrounding hills are ideal fortrekking and the mountainbiking.The hills of AlassioThe hills surrounding Alassiocan be reached on foot andare rich in natural and historicalresources.The Santuario della Madonnadella Guardia, on the mountTirasso, built in 1200, has ondisplay several votive offeringsof seafarers. In Moglio,from the beautiful location ofthe Church of San Sebastiano,visitors can admire a splendidview of the bay. A very pleasantroad leads to the smallchurch of the Madonna delleGrazie. Further on, the hamletof Vegliasco where still standsa round battlemented watchtower which is at the origin ofthe legend of its name.In Solva, it is possible to visitthe XV Century Church dellaSantissima Annunziata, whichcontains frescoes representingthe punishments of hell andthe deadly sins in accordancewith XV Century tradition ofwest Liguria. Certainly wortha visit is the small church ofSanta Croce of the XIII Centurywith a breathtaking viewpointoverlooking the sea. Itcan also be the starting pointor arrival of the Via RomanaJulia Augusta, a walk linkingAlassio and Albenga, rich inarchaeological interestThe villages of Moglio, Solvaand Santa Croce can alsobe reached by bus from thecentre of Alassio.The story of anameIt is all about the love storybetween Adelasia, daughterof Otto I of Saxony, HolyRoman Emperor, and Aleram,a young court cupbearer. Theemperor did not approve andtried to stop it, causing thetwo lovers to elope. Theyreached this part of the worldand stopped off near mountTirasso where Aleram startedworking for the bishop of Albenga.One day, the emperor,still looking for his daughter,came to Albenga as a guestof the bishop. Aleram servedhim sweet and sour wildboar, the emperor’s favouritedish. The emperor recognisedthe two lovers, forgave hisdaughter and offered Aleramas much land as he couldcover on horseback in thespan of one day. Aleramreached the Po River. Thusthe Aleramic March was created.In the place chosen byAdelasia and Aleram, a townwas founded and on accountof the princess it was calledAlaxia and then Alassio.Useful infoPinacoteca Carlo LeviCarlo Levi Art GalleryPalazzo MorteoVia Gramsci, 5817021 AlassioTel. 0182 648078 / 470676www.comune.alassio.sv.itbiblioteca@comune.alassio.sv.itWest Gallery and English LibraryViale Hanbury, 1717021 AlassioTel. 0182 648078 / 643029www.comune.alassio.sv.itbiblioteca@comune.alassio.sv.itMuseo di Scienze NaturaliDon BoscoMuseum of Natural SciencesDon BoscoVia San Giovanni Bosco, 1217021 AlassioTel. 0182 643391 / 640309Touristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily26 27

LaiguegliaA history made of coralThe romantic town of Laigueglia, one of the Most BeautifulVillages in Italy, is the last town west on the Alassio bay, at thefoot of Capo Mele. It is an old fishing village with houses onthe sea and a beach of an extra fine quality of sand. It has thetypical atmosphere of picturesque narrow lanes and piazzette,with several shops and small cafes. It enjoyed a greatprosperity in the XVII and XVIII Centuries thanks to the coraltrade which was harvested in the western Mediterranean asfar off as the coast of Tunisia. A XVI Century defensive watchtower, intended to protect the town from Saracen attacks, stillstands on the village sea front promenade.Not to be missedThe parish church of SanMatteo has two twin steeplestopped by two polychromemajolica domes on eithersides of the baroque churchfaçade. The crosses at theirtops face north-west andsouth-west, i.e. the directionsfrom where two of mostvicious winds blow, whichbears testimony to the town’ssea faring tradition. Next tothe church, the Oratory ofSanta Maddalena containsworks of the Liguriatradition, among which is thealtar piece la Maddalena inpenitenza – Magdalene doingpenance - by DomenicoPiola. Another place not tomiss is the village of CollaMicheri. It is a small villageon the hilltop betweenAndora and Laigueglia andwas chosen by the famousNorwegian explorer ThorHeyerdahl as his home.Sports, events anda little JazzIn February, those who lovecycling cannot miss theTrofeo Laigueglia, a racewhich opens the professionalItalian biking season.June is when the Percfesttakes place, an internationaljazz and percussioninstrument festival. On25th July, the Sbarco deiSaraceni takes place, i.e. thehistorical attack of 1546 bythe Saracen pirate Dragut isre-enacted.21st September is SanMatthew’s day, i.e. the dayon which the patron saint ofthe town is celebrated anda traditional market takesplace.Touristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily28 29

AndoraA town with ancient originsFounded by the Phoceans from Asia Minor in pre-roman times,its historical heart is the Castello area, where the Paraxo, theancient residence of the marquises of Clavesana, and the XIIICentury Church of SS. Giacomo e Filippo – classical musicconcerts are held here in the summer – can be found. Theadjacent Porta Torre is of the same period and stands in themiddle of an ancient Roman area of the II Century. From theXVI Century, the town was gradually abandoned, this allowedother parts and other hamlets to develop. Nowadays, theyform the rich mosaic of Andora, in a valley fragrant of theherbal scents.The marina ofAndoraAndora’s harbour is a marinawhich is property of theTown Hall and since 1975it has been awarded theBandiera Blu in recognitionof the quality of its sea. Ithas been recently renovatedto become one of the mostmodern and better equippedmarinas of western Liguria.It seems natural and at thesame time ideal that it islocated at the end of the towncentre with several bars, restaurantsand shops. A perfectplace for an idle stroll, shoppingor for sheer fun.The Sanctuary ofCetaceansCreated in 1999, the Sanctuaryof Cetaceans reaches theFrench coast (Toulon), CapoFalcone and Capo Ferro inSardinia and Fosso Chiarlonein Tuscany. The portion ofsea in the Savona area is atthe very heart of the Sanctuary.From the marina ofAndora it is possible to go onsea excursions where it is notunusual to spot cetaceans.Fish and AromaticHerbsMay is when a series ofevents called Sale & Pesce –Salt and Fish – takes place.It is intended to promote thelocal sea – and its products -and the inland areas throughthe sampling and tasting offish dishes. In June, the smallvillage of Rollo hosts theFesta delle Erbe Aromatiche,Officinali e delle Piante Antiche,an event during whichit is possible to learn moreabout herbs and discover theplants of the local tradition.Val MerulaInland from the coast, it ispossible to explore the plainof the Merula River whichflows through the town ofAndora. It is a place wellknown for the cultivation ofbasil, its olive groves andolive mills which producea delicious and wonderfuloil. Along the river, manyspecies of birds find the idealcondition for nesting whichis a great magnet for birdwatching fans. Further up thevalley, visitors can enjoy therural village of Stellanello,surrounded by woodlandsand the overhanging peaksof the Pizzo d’Evigno andMount Ceresa. In 1305 itobtained the recognitionas a free Comune. The fivepointed star on its coat ofarms is the symbol of thefive consuls that received thecharge of the local parishes.Touristic OfferOutdoors/NatureArtFamily30 31

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Provincia di Savona Servizio Promozione Turisticavia Sormano, 12 tel. 019 8313326 fax 019 8313269turismo@provincia.savona.itwww.turismo.provincia.savona.itSTL Italian Rivierastl@provincia.savona.itwww.visitriviera.itLiterature realised with funds of L.R. 28/06Loano, Pietra Ligure, Finale Ligure andthe Outdoor RivieraBardineto (17057) seasonalVia Roascio, 5tel. 019 7907228fax 019 7907228bardineto@inforiviera.itBergeggi (17028) seasonalVia Aureliatel. 019 859777fax 019 859777bergeggi@inforiviera.itBorghetto Santo Spirito(17052)Piazza Libertà, 1tel. 0182 950784fax 0182 950784borghetto@inforiviera.itFinale Ligure (17024)Via San Pietro, 14tel. 019 681019fax 019 681804finaleligure@inforiviera.itFinalborgo (Finale Ligure17024) seasonalPiazza Porta Testatel. 019 680954fax 019 6815789finalborgo@inforiviera.itLoano (17025)Corso Europa, 19tel. 019 676007fax 019 676818loano@inforiviera.itPietra Ligure (17027)Piazza Martiri della Libertà, 30tel. 019 629003fax 019 629790pietraligure@inforiviera.itSpotorno (17028)Via Aurelia, 121 c/o CentroCongressi Palacetel. 019 7415008fax 019 7415811spotorno@inforiviera.itToirano (17055)Piazzale Grottetel. 0182 989938fax 0182 98463toirano@inforiviera.itBorgio Verezzi (17022)seasonalVia Matteotti, 173tel. 019 610412fax 019 610412borgioverezzi@inforiviera.itMillesimo (17017)Piazza Italia, 2Palazzo Comunaletel. 019 564007fax 019 564368millesimo@inforiviera.itVarigotti (Finale Ligure17024) seasonalVia Aurelia, 79tel. 019 698013fax 019 6988842varigotti@inforiviera.itTOURISTINFORMATIONOFFICESAlassio, Albenga and Baie del SoleAlassio (17021)Via Mazzini, 68tel. 0182 647027fax 0182 647874alassio@inforiviera.itAlbenga (17031)Piazza del Popolo, 11tel. 0182 558444fax 0182 558740albenga@inforiviera.itAndora (17051)Largo MilanoPalazzo Tagliaferrotel. 0182 681004fax 0182 681807andora@inforiviera.itCeriale (17023)Piazza Eroi della Resistenza(lungomare)tel. 0182 993007fax 0182 993804ceriale@inforiviera.itGarlenda (17033)Via Roma, 1tel. 0182 582114fax 0182 582114garlenda@inforiviera.itLaigueglia (17053)Piazza Preve, 17tel. 0182 690059fax 0182 691798laigueglia@inforiviera.itOrtovero (17037)Via Roma, 79tel. 0182 547423fax 0182 547423ortovero@inforiviera.itCalizzano (17057) seasonalPiazza San Roccotel. 019 79193fax 019 79193calizzano@inforiviera.itNoli (17026)Corso Italia, 8tel. 019 7499003fax 019 7499300noli@inforiviera.itSavona, Varazze and the Riviera del BeiguaAlbissola Marina (17012)Piazza Lamtel. 019 4002525fax 019 4005358albissolamarina@inforiviera.itAlbisola Superiore (17011)Piazzale Marinetti, 1tel. 019 4510948fax 019 4510949albisolasuperiore@inforiviera.itCelle Ligure (17015)Via Boagno – Palazzo Comunaletel. 019 990021fax 019 9999798celleligure@inforiviera.itSassello (17046)Via G. B. Badano, 45tel. 019 724020fax 019 724020sassello@inforiviera.itSavona (17100)Via Paleocapa, 76 rtel. 019 8402321fax 019 8403672savona@inforiviera.itVarazze (17019)Corso Matteotti, 56 PalazzoBeato Jacopotel. 019 935043fax 019 935916varazze@inforiviera.itThis booklet was published by the Department for the Promotion of Tourism for theProvincia di SavonaArt director: Gabriele Dalla Costa (www.archimede.nu); Layout and graphics: Archimede (www.archimede.nu)Photos: ankor2 (www.flickr.com/photos/ankor2); archivio fotografico Provincia di Savona; Davide Bacinelli (www.garlendagolf.it);G.B. Peluffo; Lavazza & Patalano (www.matteolavazza.it); Museo Multimediale della 500 Dante Giacosa; Parco Acquatico Le Caravelle;Roberto Malacrida (www.robertomalacrida.com); Silvio Massolo (www.silviomassolo.com).Maps: M&R Comunicazione - Genova; Print: Algraphy - Genova; English translation: The Old Bag T. W.This booklet is free. No responsibility is accepted for errors or omissions. Rights of reproduction must be obtained from the parties entitled.© 2011 – Provincia di Savona Department for the Promotion of Tourism.34 35