Tour of the historic centre of Alassio

A fascinating route through pirate watchtowers

Experiences

Tour of the historic centre of Alassio

Staying on the subject of the sea and pirates, a visit to the watchtowers is a must.

There are two of them and they are very well preserved. The oldest, the Tower of Vegliasco, is located on a hillock to the east of Alassio, halfway up the coast, in a very strategic position for monitoring the Baia del Sole. Dating back to around 1500, it has a cylindrical shape. About three metres from the ground there is a rectangular door, protected by a strong grating, operated by a drawbridge movement. The tower is also known as the “Tower of Adelesia”, the daughter of Emperor Ottone I, who, according to legend, took refuge here after her marriage to Aleramo. The other watchtower, the “Torrione Saraceno“, is located in Borgo Coscia and is adjacent to the sea. It was built in the 16th century; what remains today is only part of the large original curtain wall, erected to defend the shipyards and protect the city.