Albenga - Photo Gallery 01 Gallery 02 Gallery 03
Gallery 04 Gallery 05 Gallery 06
Albenga, Province of SAVONA
During Roman times, Albenga and Ventimiglia were the most important centres in western Liguria: Albenga was the birthplace of the Emperor Pertinax.
The layout of the mediaeval town was made to adapt perfectly to the Roman settlement: it is very difficult when looking at the older walls and buildings to distinguish parts belonging to different periods. On the bed of the river Centa, just outside the town walls, remains have been found of baths, an aqueduct and a Roman burial ground. The remains of a second-century amphitheatre are also visible. At the heart of the mediaeval town are the cathedral of San Michele with its three towers (an early Christian temple reconstructed in the thirteenth century with an adjacent decagonal baptistery), the old fifteenth-century municipal building (now the Ingauno Civic Museum) and the Casa dei Malasemenza (now the town hall). There are numerous other historical buildings, including the tower-houses and religious buildings, which all go to form one of the most compact and interesting old town areas in Liguria.
The archaeological itinerary along the Via Julia Augusta starts at the church of San Martino and ends at Santa Croce di Alassio. There are also many other excursions to be made through the Mediterranean maquis, the coastland and the hills that are closest to the sea: in the direction of Casa Bianca, Salea, La Colombera, Campo Chiesa and Monte Bignone (300 m.). The underwater environment is ideal for diving: there are interesting shallows and a few relics lying off the coast. A typical local dish is "imbrogliata di carciofi", a kind of artichoke hash. Pigato, Vermentino and Rossese wines are produced from the local vineyards on the hills.
Note: The above is an extract taken from the official web-site of the Regione Ligure, Agriculture and tourism department - Tourist section. |
Travel Hint: Travelling along the Italian Riviera to visit Liguria's coastal towns and cities is recommended by train - they are frequent, comfortable and generally on time. They also take you into the resort centres and give you an additional perspective and 'flavour' of Italian life. The car by contrast is not quite as practical and ideal as first appears. There are basically two roads along the Riviera, the 'autostrada' and the 'Aurelia'. Italian 'autostrada' can be fairly stressed environments and the coastal road (via Aurelia) is pretty in parts but very slow, passing through every little seaside town. Additionally, parking in most Ligurian coastal towns is not in abundance and can take much longer to find a space than ever imagined - during most of the year, not just in summer. With car-hire, petrol, motorway tolls and parking charges, the car soon becomes an expensive and less than ideal way of getting around - and more often than not, slower overall than the journey by train.
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