Since it’s beginning Alassio was well-known as the sweetheart’s town.
An ancient legend tells that a few centuries before the year 1000, Adelasia, daughter of Otto I st, emperor of the holy Roman Empire, fell in love with Aleramo a young cup-beare at court.
Her father disfavoured this relationship so the sweet-hearts eloped, left the german territory and once married went to live on the sloped of mount Tirasso. Their poor life as charcoal burners ended when the emperor came to Italy to fight against the Arab invaders and Aleramo, with his don’t fought valiantly in the Imperial Army. The bishop of Albenga pleaded to obtain forgiveness for the emperor’s daughter and finally Aleramo was encharged of the marquisade of Acqui, Monferrato and Savona by the generous king. Where Adelasia and Aleramo lived atown was born, named in honour of the princess, Alaxia from which the modern name Alassio.
On the 4th October 2007 Alassio, famous world wide for it’s “Muretto” was the only Italian town to get the official registrated trade-mark of “Sweetheart’s town”.
There are already many works of art that remind us that Alassio indeed the “Sweetheart’s town”. The famous painting “Les Amourex” by Raymond Peynet, and the bronze statue “Innamorati” by Pellini on the “Muretto” Mastroianni’s steel “storks” and the post box that every 14th February welcomes love letters and poems coming from all over Europe.
San Valentine Best Love Letter
Alassio celebrates Saint Valentine with the best love letter competition, conceived by the “Father of the Muretto” the painter Mario Berrino 33 yaers ago. At the time the young people used to meet at the famous “Caffè Roma” opposite the Muretto and they fell in love. To collect all the messages and notes left there, the love-letters post box was ideated and to do homage to all those who used per and paper to portray their love a competition was created. Since the every year on the 14th February letters coming from all over Europe are assessed by an eminent jury that awards the best 20.
the HISTORY
the CULTURE
Places of Interest
Museums
- Museum of Natural Science c/o Salesian Institute “Madonna degli Angeli”
Winter time:
pre-holiday 17:00 / 19:00;
holiday 9:00 / 12:00
Summer time: (01.07 / 15.09):
tuesday / thursday 21:00 / 23:30; pre-holiday 17:00 / 19:00
Galleries
- Richard West Gallery
at Biblioteca Viale Hanbury - Levi Gallery
at Palazzo Morteo
Libraries
- Public Library "R. Deaglio"
Piazza Airaldi e Durante - English Library
at Biblioteca Viale Hanbury - Library fraz. Moglio
Via Mazzini 12 - Moglio d'Alassio
Archeological sites
- Along the Roman road connecting Alassio to Albenga, we can admire many remains dating from the Roman times as well as an early building of the 9th century, the Church of Sant’Anna ai Monti, finely restored in the 60’s.
Churches
Architectural and Monumental sites
- Tower of Vegliasco
- Remains of the Santa Croce Tower
- Medieval remains near the Sanctuary od the Madonna della Guardia
- Sant’Ambrogio Parish Church
- Madonna del Vento Chapel (16th century façade)
- Saracen Tower (1576)
- English Library (built at the beginning of the 20th century).
Historical characters
- Father Francesco Maria Giancardi: first historian from Alassio. He is the author of (Imprese d’Alassio” in 1653 and he is the historian of most sanctuaries of Liguria. He died in 1970.
- Gerolamo Gastaldi: Secretary of the Republic of Genoa, plenipotentiary Minister, he became famous for his political testament (18th century).
- Luigi Jacopo Grassi: archeologist and historian, he illustrated the bronze tables of the Polcevera (19th century).
- Sergio Quinzio: philosopher, writer, Bible expert; he died on March 22nd, 1995.