Celebrities' signatures on the tiles
On the Riviera delle Palme, Alassio is one of the most famous seaside resorts of the Ligurian Riviera, with a long beach of fine, golden sand, over three kilometres long, sloping gently into a calm sea, which makes it ideal for families, and a mild climate that attracted, from the late nineteenth century, a large colony of English visitors, who left villas, gardens, a library and an Anglican church. Parallel to the sea runs the Budello, the old main street of the village, a long, narrow pedestrian lane lined with shops, cafés and restaurants, the heart of the town's social life.
Alassio's symbol is the Muretto, a wall in the garden opposite the historic Caffè Roma, covered with hundreds of colourful ceramic tiles bearing the signatures of famous people who passed through Alassio: actors, singers, writers, sportsmen and artists. The idea was born in the early 1950s from the owner of the café, Mario Berrino, after a meeting with Ernest Hemingway, who was among the first to leave his signature; since then, the wall has been enriched with the names of hundreds of celebrities, and every summer new tiles are added. Linked to the Muretto, the beauty contest "Miss Muretto" has been held since 1953. Alassio is also famous for the "baci di Alassio", soft chocolate and hazelnut biscuits. From the town, the "Via Iulia Augusta", an ancient Roman road, leads along the hill to Albenga among olive groves and Roman tombs, with views of the island of Gallinara.
Tip: taste the baci di Alassio in the historic pastry shops; walk the Roman road to Albenga, about two hours.
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