Alassio is one of the most famous resorts in Italy.It is located in the province of Savona, the region of Liguria.
The first settlement in this place appeared in the 10th century.There is a legend that the young daughter of the emperor of the Roman Empire, Otto I the Great, fled to the hills of Alassio with her lover, a simple soldier.The father, however, was so kind that he forgave the lovers, Adelasia and Aleramo, and gave them part of his land, on which the city of Alassio was built.With the construction of the railway in the 18th century, a new era began for Alassio.The resort owes its development to the British, namely to the Khanburi family.Thanks to them, all trains in Italy stop in this small town, filled with English villas and churches.In the 19th century, doctors found out that Alassio's climate is good for health, especially for diseases of the heart and respiratory system.So the city became a popular medical resort.Now tourists choose it not only to improve their health, but also to enjoy a beach vacation and the beauty of the ancient city.
The weather in Alassio is characterized by a small amount of precipitation - the sun shines here almost all year round.The best period for recreation is from June to September.In these months, the air warms up to 27 degrees, the water in the sea up to 25. In addition, the winter weather in Alassio is quite pleasant: thermometers rarely show below 13-15 degrees from December to March.
The beaches of Alassio are considered to be one of the most beautiful and cleanest on the entire west coast of Italy.Their main advantage is that they are not pebbly, like, for example, most of the beaches of the Cinque Terre National Park, but made of flawless quartz sand.There are only two free beaches in the city.
Most of the beaches are owned by many hotels that charge a fee.Discounts are provided to hotel customers.All beaches have umbrellas, sunbeds, cafes, boat rental points, sports grounds.
Notable places
Gallinara Island is a unique natural attraction in the vicinity of Alassio.In the Middle Ages, a Benedictine monastery was located here - one of the largest and richest on the west coast of Italy.In the 19th century, when the monastery lost its influence and the monks left, all the surviving buildings were transferred to private ownership.Now on the island you can see a monastery of a small church built in the neo-Gothic style and a tower.The coastal waters of Gallinara are interesting for divers, but diving is allowed only under the supervision of experienced instructors, as there are often unexploded bombs from the Second World War at the bottom.
Church of Santa Croce (Chiesa di Santa Croce)
The church belonged to the monastery of Gallinara Island.For many centuries, the church was neglected and was restored only in the 19th century.The location is breathtaking with its nature and panoramic view of the entire city.
Church of Madonna della Guardia
The official name of the Church of the Madonna della Guardia is Santuario di Nostra Signora della Guardia.It was built around 1200 by fishermen and sailors who made a vow to God to build a church on the site of the castle.At first it was called "Stella Maris" (Stella Maris) - "Star of the sea".
The interior decoration of the church dates back to the 18th century.In it you can see a marble sculpture of the Heavenly Guardian, a statue of the Madonna carved from wood, as well as beautifully preserved frescoes by the artist Virgilio Grana.A large, beautiful park is spread around the church, where tourists and local residents like to walk.
The Muretto wall is not an ancient, but a completely modern landmark of Alassio.Once it was just a wall around the city park; but in the early 1950s, Ernest Hemingway gave life to a new tradition: it was his idea to decorate the wall with colorful tiles with autographs of famous actors, writers, artists, musicians, athletes and politicians.
The nearest airport is in Genoa. The distance from Genoa to Alassio is about 100 kilometers.
