Alassio: more than just the sea

A short one-day trek in the hinterland of Alassio. Text and Photos by Anna

When one speaks of Alassio one immediately thinks of its beaches crowded with bathers, of the holidaymakers strolling along the seafront or those treating themselves to a bit of healthy shopping among the shops that crowd the narrow lane of this little town. Well yes.. we did none, or rather almost none, of all that!

It is said that the first inhabitants of Alassio were the Ligurians belonging to the tribe of the Ingauni. From the tourist point of view, its discovery seems to be owed to the English in the 19th century, when they made it a sizeable English colony and built several buildings in English style there, still present today.

The bus that accompanies us leaves us on the Aurelia near the junction for Solva. We are quite a few, so we did cause a bit of chaos on the road, but in no time at all we are all ready with our backpacks on our shoulders and our boots on our feet, ready to start the walk. We reach the little church of Solva along a very suggestive little road, which passes among the houses and the lemon trees that make us so envious. From Solva (the last point where it is possible to find water) we immediately take the trail that leads us towards Mount Bignone. The trail at first winds among the houses and then gives way to vegetation: maritime pines and olive trees. Suggestive landscapes open up before our eyes, views with olive trees of particular beauty. The panorama over the city of Alassio is made suggestive by the presence of the mists. Well..

if on one hand it prevents us, for now, from seeing the city and the sea, on the other the sea of mists is amply suggestive and poetic.

At times the trail is straight and at times it continues on a gentle slope in ever more sparse vegetation. The sun begins to make itself felt and the heat is no small thing.

We reach the hill at the foot of Mount Bignone (521 m), where we stop to regroup (there are 64 of us!) and have a snack. From the hill the view ranges over Alassio on one side and Albenga on the other. From the hill, on an easy trail, we continue up to the summit of Mount Bignone, from which the view is even more beautiful, then return to the hill and continue towards Mount Vegliasco. The trail that leads us to Mount Vegliasco continues on a gentle slope and then climbs gently in a wooded and cool environment. With the heat, this stretch in the woods was pleasant for everyone. Mount Vegliasco (598 m), dotted with transmitters, does not have much poetry to offer us, but the view over the gulf of Alassio and Laigueglia is very beautiful. Meanwhile the mists have cleared and we can see the sails of the boats swaying gently on the sea.

After lunch we begin the return route. First we take a dirt road whose view dominates the gulf of Alassio and Laigueglia, and then continue on a steep trail that will take us directly into the centre of Alassio. Along the trail it is a must to stop to take a few photos and admire the splendid panorama that this route is gifting us.

While waiting for the bus to come and pick us up, we treat ourselves to a stroll in Alassio, some devoting themselves to shopping, some treating themselves, like the undersigned, to a mega granita, or some taking advantage of the heat and the sun for a quick trip to the beach and even a nice swim! Our clothing is not really suited to the place; the boots, the backpack and the poles certainly do not go unnoticed, but we are happy and satisfied and we care little if some lady looks at us as if we had come down from a spaceship.

It was a lovely outing, a little journey that gave me so much. The hour and a half of queue we had to endure, on the way back, on the motorway between Alassio and Savona, did not in the slightest dent or spoil the memory I have of this beautiful day and of the always very kind people with whom I shared it.

The beautiful legend of Adelasia seems to be at the origin of the name of the city of Alassio. It is in fact told that Adelasia, daughter of Otto I of Saxony (emperor of the Holy Roman Empire from 936 to 972), had fallen in love, reciprocated, with a court cup-bearer. Obviously this love was not tolerated by her father. So, as happens in the best love stories, the two lovers fled together from Germany and, no one knows how, established their home at the foot of Mount Tirasso. As in the best stories they married and, although they lived happily, they nevertheless lived in hardship. Until the day when the father was reconciled with his daughter, on the occasion of his coming to the region to fight the Saracens. At this point Otto invested his son-in-law Aleramo with a series of noble titles. In short, they finally lived, truly, happily ever after.

And now we come to the origin of the name: where Adelasia and Aleramo had settled, a city arose which, in honour of the princess, was called Alaxia, later becoming Alassio. And this is the beautiful legend that lies at the origin of the name of Alassio.

To conclude, the outing was organised by the association of the Ciaspole di Pinerolo and once again the organisers did a good job, gifting all the participants with a splendid day in the midst of nature, discovering the other face of Alassio.