The Italian Dolce Vita in pure English style: a day in Alassio, Italy

content:
photos:
Vote this travel review

The first of the now large number of colored tiles, signed by the characters of art, entertainment and sports to be located on the famous Muretto of Alassio, was that of Ernest Hemingway. It was 1951 and at the time, as recalled by the painter Mario Berrino Alassio, the wall of Via Dante was only a low wall to stem the rural park. So the artist had the idea to decorate with tiles that reminded me of the many VIPs who enlivened the sweet life of the place. The great American writer was enthusiastic about the idea. At his tile followed that of the Cetra Quartet and many others.
Our walk in this beautiful city on the Ligurian Riviera di Ponente starts right from the wall, also famous for the beauty contest Miss walling, as well as a place to be lucky in love. The Valentine's Day, in fact, the couples come together in the famous work of "amoreux" by Raymond Peynet, leaving their love letters in the mailbox located next to the sculpture of lovers, the work of Eros Pellini.
Moreover, even the name Alassio is linked to a great love story: the one between Aleramo of Monferrato and the daughter of Emperor Otto I of Saxony, Adelasia, whose name derives from the term Alassio. Just Aleramo was the first owner of the ancient Tower of Vegliasco, depicted in the coat of arms. Once the watch towers built by the sea, as well as the Tower Saraceno Borgo Coscia, were important in the defense of the coast from the frequent pirate raids.
Many centuries later, in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, Alassio became one of the favorite tourist destinations by the British. That is why, walking downtown, you see a little 'everywhere the beautiful English-style villas. Among the most illustrious British who had lived in Alassio, stands the family that created the Hanbury Botanical Gardens in Ventimiglia homonyms, and the painter Richard Whateley West, which is called the Art Gallery located at the Library of Hanbury Street.
The city is also very rich in beautiful churches, including St. Ambrose Parish, native of the eleventh century. Seamen on the mountain, overlooking the town and the ruins of an ancient castle, stands the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Guard, built in 1200.
To enjoy the breathtaking view from the top of Alassio, we reach the ancient Roman scenic road in the Santa Croce, where is situated the homonymous church, built in the eleventh century by Benedictine monks from the nearby Island Gallinara. From the viewpoint opens a wonderful view of the island surrounded by the blue sea, while on the coast you stand the ruins of a tower and the chapel of the marina Luca Ferrari.
Not far from here, passing through a street lined with feature walls immersed in a shower of bougainvillea, Solva reach the village, where we sit at the tables of the Osteria Ristorante La Vigna. The view from the room opens onto the bay leaves you speechless: it's like being in a painting by Raoul Dufy. "Since the sixties the Osteria La Vigna is one of the hottest restaurants and frequented by VIPs. We took over management in 2007, enhancing the charm that had made him known and capable of surprising even the most demanding, "he says Mr. Pio, the owner who runs the restaurant with his sons Luke and Charlotte. We start our dinner filled with the flavor of the traditional territory with a specialty of this place: the vinaigrette, with excellent sauces. We continue with the buridda cuttlefish, anchovies stuffed Ligurian and brandacujun, a dish which is a typical Ligurian creamed salt cod or stockfish with potatoes. Some of us enjoy hors d'oeuvres instead of land, including snails with polenta. We follow this rich starter from the first prepared with homemade fresh pasta noodles choosing blacks with shrimp and goat cheese, tagliatelle with lobster, sea bass ravioli with mussels, clams and zucchini and potato gnocchi with fresh anchovies. Also sample trofiette green with Genovese pesto, potatoes and green beans, borage and ravioli with walnut sauce. When choosing the second we divide between fish as the catch of the day with a slice of potato, olives and pine nuts, fried squid, stockfish with potatoes and olives and flat land such as rabbit with Vermentino.
We conclude the evening enjoying the excellent home made cakes, sipping wine from Liguria and Piedmont, and making plans on when to come back here next time: how the artists of the early twentieth century, our heart has been ravished by the beauty of Alassio.

Bertha Frances

PER INFORMAZIONI:
www.comune.Alassio.sv.it
www.ristorantelavigna.it
Ristorante La Vigna
Via Lepanto, 1 Fraz. Solva, Alassio (SV)
Tel.: 0182/644744