Alassio is a charming seaside resort on the Western Riviera in Liguria, characterised by a long sandy beach, a seafront promenade full of small bars, and a quaint historic centre.
Situated in a natural amphitheatre between Capo Mele and Capo di Santa Croce, Alassio is the first resort on the Riviera dei Fiori one encounters coming from Genoa.
Many will know it for its iconic Muretto, which inspired the famous Miss Muretto beauty contest, held between 1953 and 2014.
But Alassio has so many attractions that the town is teeming with life even in the winter months when most coastal resorts shut down, waiting to start up again in fine weather.
Let’s discover together the peculiarities of Alassio that attract thousands of tourists from all over Europe every year.
Where Alassio is located
Alassio is a municipality in the province of Savona, in Liguria.
It is 50 kilometres from Savona and a little less than 100 kilometres from Genoa.
How to get to Alassio
To get to Alassio by car, you need to take the A10 Genova-Ventimiglia motorway and exit at Albenga.
You can look for parking either near the seafront or in the internal streets where there are several car parks,also free of charge.
Otherwise, the cost of parking in the blue areas is €1,50 per hour from 8:00 to 20:00 during the period from 01/10 to 31/03, and from 8:00 to 23:00 during the remaining months.
You can also reach Alassio by train as the town is served by trains on the Genoa-Ventimiglia railway line, and the station is very close to the centre.
To travel between the coastal resorts between Andora and Finale Ligure, you can take bus No. 40, which runs every 30 minutes.
For those arriving by plane, the nearest airport is Genoa.
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Getting to Alassio by car is very easy: just take the A10 Genova-Ventimiglia motorway (recommended exit: Albenga); you can also get there by taking the SS1 Aurelia. Reaching Alassio by train is also convenient because the city is located along the Genoa-Ventimiglia railway line, served by numerous regional and Intercity trains. – https://www.liguria.info/savona/alassioAlassio what to see
The centre of Alassio can easily be visited on foot.
The main attractions are the old town centre, the Muretto, the promenade with its jetty, and the beautiful beach.
Slightly further away, near the harbour, are the small chapel (Stella Maris) in a very picturesque panoramic position, and the archaeological itinerary of the Via Iulia Augusta.
Let us look at them one by one.
Historic Centre or Budello
The historic centre of Alassio, known as the Budello, is the caruggio or internal street parallel to the sea.
It is characterised by pedestrian streets and narrow lanes lined with colourful buildings typical of Ligurian towns.
The budello is perfect for a stroll among the little shops and aperitif bars. If you want to walk along it entirely, you might be interested to know that one entrance is from Borgo Coscia, the one on the opposite side is from Piazza Partigiani.
Along the way, there are many exits that head towards the coast.
Wall of Alassio
One of Alassio’s most famous attractions is the Muretto, created in 1953 by Mario Berrino, owner of the historic Roma Caffè.
Following a meeting with Ernest Hemingway, a frequent visitor to the café, Berrino came up with the idea of covering it with curious ceramic tiles, decorated with the signatures of famous people.
Day after day, noting that no protests had been raised following this clandestine artistic action, more tiles were added, all different in shape and colour.
Today there are about a thousand, all authorised by the city administration.
In 1978, what has now become the symbol of the town of Alassio – a bronze statue of two seated lovers by sculptor Eros Pellini – was installed in the Muretto.
Alassio promenade
The Alassio seafront stretches for about 4 kilometres.
It is a pleasant promenade, set between the sea and the green hills.
Along the way, there are many small cafés and restaurants serving fresh fish, which are truly excellent.
Also characteristic is the jetty where you can take a stroll admiring the view, and the Torrione della Coscia, an ancient defensive bastion that unfortunately cannot be visited inside.
Alassio Beach
Beach at Alassio is a narrow sandy shore, nestled between the sea and colourful buildings attached to each other.
Sand of the Alassio beach is known for its composition, which consists of a high percentage of quartz and silicates that make it soft to the touch.
The seabed slopes gently, so it is an excellent destination for families with children.
The beach comprises free areas (few) and equipped areas.
There are numerous bathing establishments, some of which are of a very high standard.
Alassio bathing establishment
Bagni Bernardino
If you want to treat yourself to a relaxing day out without spending a fortune, you will find kindness and a variety of services at the Bagni Bernardino.
Let’s start by saying that the sunbeds are equipped with a mattress so they are very comfortable.
Unlike other bathing establishments, moreover, you are not crammed in like sardines, but there is enough room between your seat and the one next to it.
At Bagni Bernardino, between June and September, you will find a bar, free wifi, a children’s play area, and an entertainment service (water aerobics and baby dance).
The sand is fine and the seabed shallow so, for all intents and purposes, it is an excellent destination for families.
The price is also not as exorbitant as in some neighbouring bathing establishments.
Depending on the row, it costs between €25 and €60 per day (the row closest to the sea obviously costs more).
Bagni Bernardino – Lungomare A. Ciccione 1, Alassio.
▶ Best beaches for children in Liguria
What to see in Alassio: Stella Maris Church
The Stella Maris church, affectionately called by the people of Alassio La Cappelletta, is located on the “Scoglio delle Vedove” in memory of those who fell at sea.
Legend has it that this rocky outcrop continually claimed victims, leaving widows forever separated from their husbands.
The fishermen of the area wanted to entrust themselves to the Star of the Sea by bringing the Madonna of Trapani from Sicily.
The small church was thus built and officially consecrated on 8 September 1929.
Little chapel is located near the marina so, just to give an idea of the distances, it is about 2.5 kilometres from the Alassio jetty. Once in the vicinity, it can be reached via a short, picturesque stone staircase that merges with the rocks.
The view of the harbour and the bay of Alassio is spectacular!
Via Iulia Augusta
Via Iulia Augusta, one of the most famous Roman roads, was commissioned by Emperor Octavian Augustus between 13 and 12 BC to connect Rome to southern Gaul.
The well-preserved archaeological itinerary between Alassio and Albenga allows you to admire ancient ruins and breathtaking landscapes.
The route alternates between paved and unpaved sections and the original Roman paving, and is about 5.5 kilometres long (estimated time 2h).
You can reconnect to the Via Iulia Augusta from the Stella Maris Church via a flight of steps.
Gallinara Island
Gallinara Island is an uninhabited islet that is part of the municipality of Albenga.
Especially in the summer months, boat trips can be organised to the island from Alassio, stopping to dive into the clear waters.
On Gallinara Island there is a Benedictine monastery, a defence tower and a votive chapel.
Around the island, off the coast of Alassio, it is possible to spot dolphins and whales in the so-called Cetacean Sanctuary, thanks to Whale Watching tours.
What else to see in Alassio: Gardens of Villa della Pergola
Villa della Pergola is an elegant late 19th-century historical residence.
Home to an exclusive hotel on the Relais & Châteaux circuit, the villa cannot be visited but its beautiful gardens are, instead, open to the public.
The gardens are the brainchild of General Montagu McMurdo and his wife Lady Susan Sarah Napier, who transformed a simple agricultural estate into an oasis of greenery .
To the initial cultivation of citrus and olive trees, ornamental and exotic plants were added, as well as fountains and fine landscaping.
Today, the park is home to more than 400 species of agapanthus and 32 varieties of wisteria that beautifully adorn the pergolas, as well as many other collections and rare plants.
From the park of Villa della Pergola, one can also enjoy splendid panoramic views of the sea.
Visiting Information
The Villa della Pergola Gardens can be visited from March to October, only by guided tours that must be booked in advance.
The cost of the visit is €15 and the visiting hours are 9:30 – 11:30 – 15:00.
In each month that the gardens are open, different blooms can be admired. If you are interested in the flowering of the wisteria, you should go in April/May, for the agapanthus in June/July.
Address – Via Privata Montagu, 9, 17021 Alassio.
Where to eat in Alassio
Strolling along the Alassio seafront, we decided to sit at the outdoor tables of the FronteMare Movida restaurant.
Very fresh crudo, plentiful fried fish, and kindness to our little girls who created a bit of a fuss.
In short, not the usual tourist-catching seafront restaurant, but a place to return to.
What to do with children in Alassio
Alassio is a place that children love because of the sandy beach where they can build wonderful castles and the mild climate of the Ligurian Riviera that allows them to dip their toes in the water even in the winter months!
Right next to the aforementioned Muretto di Alassio, there is also a large, new playground where children can let off steam for a few hours.
Public toilets and a drinking water fountain can be found here.
Inside the San Rocco Park in Alassio every day from June to September there is the Air Park with inflatables from 17:00 to 23:30.
Finally, for those travelling with small children, it may be of interest to know that both the centre and the promenade of Alassio can be easily travelled with a pushchair.
Where to sleep in Alassio
Sleeping in Alassio is quite expensive.
Most accommodation facilities are hotels, some of them in fabulous seafront locations. A few privately run flats can also be found at a slightly lower price.
If you have the curiosity to visit the town outside of beach tourism, the advice might be to book during a ‘dead’ period such as the end of winter, where you can find discounted rates.
You can still find wonderful sunny days and, perhaps, a little less crowds.
Hotels Alassio
Below, you will find a few accommodation options, from comfortable flats to exclusive hotels.
La Ballerina di Alassio
A simple but fully equipped flat, with the added value of a parking space. Also accessible to the disabled.
A cot for children 0-1 years old is offered free of charge.
The flat is a few minutes walk from the centre of Alassio – Book here.
Hotel Adler
Just a few steps from the centre of Alassio, Hotel Adler offers an outdoor swimming pool with cervical waterfall and parking in the private garage at an additional cost of €13 per day.
A cot for children aged 0-2 years is offered free of charge.
The hotel provides access to a partner beach, to be booked in advance – Book here.
Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort – The Leading Hotels of the World
The Grand Hotel Alassio is a dream.
Located on the seafront, the Grand Hotel Alassio Beach & Spa Resort offersfree access to a private beach, a wellness centre, two swimming pools, one of which is reserved for adults only, a babysitting service, a parking service, and much more.
A cot for children aged 0-3 is offered free of charge, as is breakfast.
Prices are high but you can find some slightly ‘cheaper’ rates in the low season – book here.
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