Soggiorna
Alassio is known for its beach, but the centre and the walks make for a more varied visit. In a day you can see the Muretto, the Budello, the seafront and one panoramic stretch. Here is each of them with the time it actually takes and how far it is from the station.
At a glance: times and distances
Distances are measured on foot from the station along the real route; visiting times are indicative and assume no queue.
| What | From the station | Time needed | Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Muretto | about 350 m | 15-20 min | no |
| The Budello (672 m, end to end) | 200 m | 10 min walking, an afternoon with the shops | no |
| Beach and seafront | 390 m | as long as you like | not on a free beach |
| The Cappelletta Stella Maris | 1.2 km | 15-20 min on foot | no, open-air viewpoint |
| Pinacoteca Carlo Levi | 560 m | 30-45 min | yes, limited opening hours |
| Gardens of Villa della Pergola | 790 m, uphill | 80-minute guided tour | yes, booking compulsory |
| Via Iulia Augusta towards Albenga | from the centre | half a day | no |
| Laigueglia | one train stop | half a day | train ticket |
1. The Muretto
The symbol of the town. The tradition began in 1953, when Mario Berrino, owner of the nearby Caffè Roma, had the idea of decorating the garden wall with ceramic tiles signed by well-known figures from entertainment, sport and culture. The signatures have piled up ever since and keep being added: this is a wall that grows, not a fixed monument.
It stands along the Budello, by the gardens on via Vittorio Veneto. A quarter of an hour is enough to see it, but it is worth stopping to hunt for names. It is free and always accessible.
2. The Budello
The name comes from the shape: a budello is a gut, and this is a narrow, long, winding lane between the houses. On a map the Budello does not exist: it is two adjoining streets, via XX Settembre and via Vittorio Veneto, separated only by the thirty metres of piazza Matteotti. It is the pedestrian lane running behind the beach, almost parallel to the sea, right through the old centre.
It is often called "the longest open-air shopping street in Europe" and credited with two kilometres. Measured along the actual route, the pedestrian axis is 672 metres: 355 of via XX Settembre plus 288 of via Vittorio Veneto. You only reach two kilometres by counting the network of side lanes that feed into it.
Shops, pastry shops, bars and restaurants occupy the ground floors, while the side passages open onto views of the sea and let you reach the sand in a few steps. The pastry shops sell baci di Alassio, the hazelnut-and-chocolate sweets created in the town.
Walking it end to end without stopping takes ten minutes; with the windows and a stop, an afternoon. It changes character through the day: in the morning it is the street where people do their shopping, in the evening it becomes a promenade and stays busy late. If you only get one chance, choose the evening.
3. Beach and seafront
Even without planning a day at the sea, walking along the water is part of the visit. The promenade crosses the whole bay and can be followed for kilometres. In high season the accesses are crowded: which stretch to choose, where the free sections are and what beach clubs cost is in Alassio beaches.
4. The Cappelletta Stella Maris
Overlooking the marina, the Cappelletta is one of the symbols of Alassio and one of the best viewpoints over the bay: from here you can see the open sea and the island of Gallinara. It is reached from the centre with a walk along the shore, the natural continuation of the seafront.
Photo: Fabio Ricci / Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0
5. Via Iulia Augusta
The ancient Roman road links Alassio to Albenga along a panoramic route above the sea, among olive trees and Roman remains. It is the finest walk in the area and it is free, but it needs planning: proper shoes, water, sun protection, and not in the middle of an August day. Half a day is the right amount of time.
6. Villas and the English period
Between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries Alassio was a destination for the British community, which left villas, gardens and an English library. Not all the properties can be visited: part of the interest lies in looking at them from the outside as you walk. The most direct testimony you can actually go into is the Richard West Memorial Gallery & English Library at viale Hanbury 77, though its opening hours are narrow.
7. Villa della Pergola
The gardens of Villa della Pergola are the most distinctive place in the area: terraces overlooking the gulf, with remarkable botanical collections.
They can be visited only on a guided tour, lasting about 80 minutes, and booking is compulsory: without a ticket bought in advance, entry is not guaranteed. Tours leave at 9.30am, 11.30am, 3pm and 5pm, every day from 20 March. Full price is €19, reduced €15 (FAI and ADSI members, students up to 25, visitors with disabilities, residents of Alassio and Albenga), €9 for children aged 6 to 14, free under 6.
Two things to know before going: dogs are not admitted, to protect the rare plants and the wildlife; and the route is terraced, with steps and ramps, so accessibility is partial. You may enter from ten minutes before your booked time, and more than ten minutes late you are not admitted at all. It is 790 metres from the station, but uphill: allow a good quarter of an hour.
8. A walk to Laigueglia
Laigueglia is the next town along, with a smaller, more tightly knit seafaring centre. You get there in one train stop, by bus, or on foot along the sea if you feel like it. It is the natural extension of the visit and worth half a day.
A one-day itinerary
- 9.30am arrive and have a coffee in the centre; the Budello in the morning, while it is still the town's own street.
- 10.30am the Muretto and the gardens on via Vittorio Veneto.
- 11.30am down to the sea through one of the side passages, then a walk along the front.
- 1pm lunch in the centre.
- 3pm the beach, or the Pinacoteca Carlo Levi if it happens to be one of its opening days.
- 6pm back into the Budello, which is completely different in the evening.
Anyone who has booked Villa della Pergola should move that visit to 9.30 or 11.30am and let the rest slide: it is the only fixed appointment of the day.
If it rains
Indoor options in Alassio are few and their opening hours narrow, and there is no working cinema in town. What there actually is, with the hours, is in what to do in Alassio when it rains.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need to see Alassio?
A day is enough for the Muretto, the Budello, the seafront and a stop on the beach. Two days let you add the via Iulia Augusta or the gardens of Villa della Pergola: the itinerary is in Alassio in two days.
Are the sights close together?
Yes. The Muretto, the Budello, the beach and the station are all within four hundred metres of one another. The one exception is Villa della Pergola, up in the hills.
Why is it called the Budello?
Because of its shape: budello means gut, and the lane is narrow, long and winding between the houses. On maps and street signs it is via XX Settembre and, along the second stretch, via Vittorio Veneto.
Do the Muretto and the Budello charge admission?
No, both are freely accessible at any time. Galleries, gardens and guided tours do have tickets and opening hours.
Can you visit Villa della Pergola without booking?
No. Visits are guided only, last about 80 minutes, and the ticket must be bought in advance: turning up at the gate does not guarantee entry.
What to see in Alassio if you are short of time?
If you have two hours: the Budello from the station up to the Muretto, down to the sea through a side passage, and back along the promenade. Less than two kilometres in total.