Discover Il Budello di Alassio

Last updated on October 22, 2026

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Checked against Wikipedia — The budello of Alassio -- officially it is called "Piazza XX Settembre" -- is a carruggio facing the sea, defined as the "pulsing heart of the town". It is surrounded by houses of the fifteen- and sixteen-hundreds, running the whole length of the town. This street has two principal entrances: the first is the one from the Borgo Coscia, that is to say towards Laigueglia; the second is the one from Piazza Partigiani, towards Albenga. Along the course of the budello there are many exits, both towards the town street -- such as corso Dante Alighieri -- and those which lead directly towards the shore. The budello contributes to the economy of the town, given the presence of shops of various kinds, where both tourists and the inhabitants of the town can make their purchases; given the presence of shops of this kind, the budello has won the designation of "open-air shopping centre"., In the course of the sixteenth century piracy manifested itself in a relevant way at Alassio, bringing notable challenges for the commerce of the region; notwithstanding the difficulties, the inhabitants of Alassio, furnished with letters of marque, actively exercised navigation. Between 1521 and 1557 Alassio witnessed an intense building activity aimed at strengthening its defences against the constant threats coming both from the rivalry with the people of Albenga and from the attacks of Turkish and Barbary pirates. The community undertook the construction of a robust wall circuit, which in the end surrounded the entire town, extending for more than 1.6 kilometres. This imposing defensive system included solid bastions and towers, positioned strategically to protect the most vulnerable areas, among them the Borgo Barusso to the west and Borgo Coscia to the east, the latter defended by two towers but left outside the main walls. A distinctive element of the fortification was the moat, called "fossao de li roxotti" -- now known as the rio Cardellino -- which marked the eastern boundary of the town, with the Bastione di Barluffo adapting over time to house commercial activity on its ground floor. Other defensive elements along the coast included outworks and bastions, such as the Bastione di Piazza, which was demolished to create space for the seafront promenade. The porta di San Vincenzo, part of the Bastione di Barluffo, was crucial for controlling access to the town. Legend tells that eighteen Barbary slaves, captured by Giuliano Berno, a captain of Alassio, contributed to the construction of these fortifications. Notwithstanding the completion of the principal works in 1540, the walls remained unfinished until 1557, a period in which Genoa intensified its efforts to guarantee the security of its coastal localities., The Torrione Saraceno, also known as the Torrione della Coscia, is one of the most emblematic structures of Alassio. This ancient defensive bastion was built in the sixteenth century by the Republic of Genoa, forming part of the network of coastal towers conceived to protect the maritime communities from the incursions of pirates, a frequent danger in the Mediterranean of that period. The tower stands to the east of Alassio, in the Borgo Coscia quarter, and from its origins had a crucial function in the defence of the town, making it possible to sight and repel attacks coming from the sea. Its circular masonry structure is typical of Ligurian defensive constructions, designed to maximise effectiveness in terms of resistance and visibility. The Torrione Saraceno became private property from the middle of the nineteen-hundreds and, although it is not accessible to the public, it continues to retain notable historical, aesthetic and tourist value. The Torre di Vegliasco, situated on the summit of a panoramic ridge, dominates the landscape offering a spectacular view over Alassio, Laigueglia and Capo Mele. This historically relevant tower was probably built in the fifteenth century by Genoese builders, principally for functions of sighting and defence against maritime incursions. Notwithstanding the architectural evidence suggesting construction in the fifteenth century, local tradition attributes to the tower still more remote origins, dating it as far back as the tenth century; this historical narrative recounts that the tower was the property of the marquis Aleramo del Monferrato and that it had a role not only military but also residential, housing Adelasia, Aleramo's beloved and daughter of the emperor Otto I of Saxony. It is depicted in the town's coat of arms., In 1912 Alassio saw the opening of its municipal Casino, a significant addition to the social and cultural life of the town. However, this structure was demolished in 1936 to give space to the creation of piazza Littorio, today known as Piazza Partigiani; following the closure of the municipal Casino the gambling licence was transferred to the Casino of Sanremo. Carlo Noceti was elected mayor and held the office from 1923 to 1926. In that period the new Via Dante was extended as far as Piazza Paccini, under the direction of the podesta Santino Durante, elected in 1927; in parallel a new Anglican church was built in an elevated position with respect to the railway line, since the previous church had been incorporated into the land owned by the Ferrovie dello Stato, and it still exists. In 1929, with the arrival of the prefectural commissioner Novaro, Alassio granted honorary citizenship to the Duce; the same year also saw the erection of a small chapel dedicated to those lost at sea. Two years later, in 1931, a monument to the town's fallen was inaugurated, and in 1934, under the direction of the new podesta Andrea Quartino, the cemetery of Valbona or Barbona was opened. In 1935 the reconstruction of the Molo began, which was subsequently destroyed by the retreating Nazis and rebuilt in 1952. In 1936 the population of Alassio exceeded 8,000 inhabitants for the first time. Two years later, in 1938, the construction of an overpass began in order to eliminate the level crossing situated to the east of the town, a modification definitively implemented only after the war. In 1940, following the demolition of the ancient Church of San Vincenzo situated in the present Piazza Partigiani, a new parish was built to the west of the town, keeping the same name., In the historic centre of Alassio several buildings of historical and architectural interest are present. Among these can be mentioned the Palazzo Ferrero de Gubernatis Ventimiglia and the Palazzo Brea. The Palazzo Scofferi, dating back to the eighteenth century, is known for housing a crucifix attributed to the Flemish sculptor Giambologna. The Palazzo Bonfante, built in the seventeenth century, also contributes to the architectural patrimony of the zone. The Palazzo del Comune, erected in 1904, serves as the seat of the municipal administration of the town. The Muretto di Alassio is a wall made of stones in which ceramic tiles are set. Finally, there is the sculptural cycle of Fernando Bassani, characterised by works of large dimensions distributed in the public places of the town. (October 2026).

Discover Il Budello di Alassio

Architecture

The short history

How it was built and evolved over time

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Discover Il Budello di Alassio

Architecture

The short history

How it was built and evolved over time

Frequently asked questions

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