Alassio

Alassio lies in the beautiful bay between Capo Santa Croce and Capo Mele on the western Riviera. It has been one of the main international tourist sea-side resorts in the whole area for over a century. It boasts a beautiful sandy beach stretching for over 3 km. You may find interesting the fact that this sand is so fine because it is made of pure quartz.

Alassio is a town and comune of Liguria, Italy, on the coast of the Gulf of Genoa, in the province of Savona.

It is mainly noticeable as a health resort in winter and a bathing-place in summer, and has many hotels.

The town was settled in the Middle Ages when valley inhabitants started coming down to the sea to fish. According to the legend, the name derives from that of Adelasia, daughter of Emperor Otto I.

Control of the town was eventually taken by the monks from the Island of Gallinara and later by the commune of Albenga.

Main sights

• Parish church of St. Ambrose • Palazzo Ferrero de Gubernatis Ventimiglia • Saracen Tower • The muretto, a wall with 550 tiles signed by celebrities.