Visit Albenga
Albenga is a town near the coast of western Liguria.
Summary: the highlights in the town are the interesting medieval centre, and the museum that contains the remains of a 1st century ship. The medieval part of Albenga, with plazas and roads edged by attractive 13th century buildings, has its focus around three towers and the Saint Michele cathedral in the heart of the town, and the renowned baptistry, an attractive brick building with an unusual feature - from the outside it has ten sides, yet only eight on the inside.
Your visit to Albenga can start from the “Via Aurelia” ( “Julia Augusta”), along which you can see some remains dating from Roman times. Albenga is unique in Liguria in that it has preserved the ancient Roman structure, with two main streets, the “cardo” and “decumanus”, intersecting at the center, and a series of medieval towers perfectly integrated - hence Albenga is known as the 'city of a hundred towers'.The Piazza San Michele is the heart of Albenga Old Town.
Albenga Cathedral
The Cathedral, which holds some interesting works of art, is found on the Piazza San Michele. The cathedral is a Romanesque building of the XI-XIII century, altered several times (the interior is, in fact, in the Baroque style). Archaeological excavations have unearthed a "Last Judgement" fresco by brothers Matteo and Tommaso Biasacci (or “Biazaci”) da Brusca, who were active in the XVth century. The cathedral bell tower is considered to be among the finest monuments of late - Gothic Liguria.
Baptistery
A few meters away stands the Baptistery, virtually unchanged from the fifth century. The octagonal interior keeps a baptismal font and a 6thh century mosaic, rich in Christian symbols. The original vault has been replaced with a wooden construction. In fact, it was demolished during some restorations, but the materials from which it was built revealed that it dated from the fifth century AD. In the small central apse there is a mosaic (5th-6th century), with the so-called “Monogram of Christ” on the vault, surrounded by 12 doves, in the background of the starry sky.
Other Albenga highlights
Close by there is the Ingauno Museum, in which are important remains of the ancient Roman and Byzantine town; many inscriptions, urns and other stone fragments. It is located in the 'Palazzo Vecchio del Comune', dating from the late fourteenth century and with a tower next to the mullioned windows.
The 'Piazzetta dei Leoni', immediately behind the apse of the cathedral, is dominated by the Costa Palace and the tower. The name of the square comes from the three stone lions that the Costa family brought from Rome in 1608. Near the center see also the “Piazza Girolamo Rossi”, surrounded by some medieval buildings, among which there is an intact house fromf the fourteenth century, and the important “Via Bernardo Ricci”, which has largely retained its medieval aspect. Also meriting a visit are the decorated halls of the “Palazzo Peloso Cepolla”, home to the Roman Ship Museum, where there are the remains of some amphorae of a Roman ship.
The former Bishop's Palace holds the Diocesan Museum, where they are paintings, illuminated manuscripts and tapestries from the 16th century. The museum visit passes through seven rooms, which hold artifacts found during excavations in the Cathedral, as well as some 16th century tapestries, paintings of the Ligurian-Provencal school of the 14th and 16th centuries, large pieces of silverware belonging to the treasury of the Cathedral, and, finally, some paintings by authors of great renown such as the “Martyrdom of Saint Catherine” by Guido Reni (1575-1642), “Miracle of St. Verano” by Giovanni Lanfranco (1582-1647) and a painting of “St. John the Baptist”, attributed by some scholars to the great Caravaggio (1571-1610).
Outside the town walls we can see archaeological remains of considerable interest: a tomb tower, known as the "Pilone"; a funerary monument dating from the second century BC; and the ruins of an amphitheater. Behind the hill, in the fourth century AD, Albenga's first Christian church was built, dedicated to “San Calogero” - later enclosed in the walls of a Benedictine monastery, now in ruins.
Albenga region and Cuisine
Very nice also is the region around Albenga, with some picturesque villages, offering a landscape of castles and fortified villages of medieval origin. A visit to them can be an excellent opportunity to taste some typical dishes like the “ravioli with ‘faraballà’”, a pastry filled with vegetables and wheat, and the “Zemin”, a vegetable soup.
Since ancient times the plain has been planted with gardens and orchards near the villages, while the foothills contain pastures, crops and vineyards. Even today, the plain is rich in vegetable and fruit crops. Among these, artichokes and asparagus are the most popular products, but also the zucchini, tomatoes, carrots and leeks, as well as peaches and apricots, basil and other herbs. On the surrounding hills wines such as the “Vermentino” and “Rossese” are produced, while a typical dish is the 'Imbrogliata' artichoke.
See also history of Albenga.