For the walk today, we are looking for parking in Vadino, near the large roundabout that also leads to large roundabout that also leads towards Alassio or San Fedele. It will be the latter direction that we will take, following a short stretch of the provincial road. In about ten minutes, we go up along the asphalt road that on the left leads to Monte Rosso.
Monte Rosso. We immediately find a sign that indicates the diversions to reach the Pilone and the amphitheatre. Pilone and the amphitheatre. We follow the sign and climb for a few hundred metres, meeting metres, meeting the Pilone, the name given by the Albenganesi to the funeral monument (in the past it was believed to be a lighthouse of the ancient port that stood at the foot of Monte Rosso). The mule track beneath our feet is very well preserved, even if we must you have to pay attention to the unevenness between the stones - it's easy to get twisted!
As soon as we have passed the climb, the flat stretch begins, which is the main feature of the route.
conformation of the route; on our right we notice the remains of the amphitheatre.
of the amphitheatre. Only the foundations remain.
Characteristic of the route: we often find posters and vertical signs indicating sites of historical interest. indicating sites of historical interest. A little further on from the Roman amphitheatre are the remains of the Abbey of San Martino. Martino Abbey, now converted into a private villa. We now begin to encounter a vast series of archaeological remains of funerary monuments named after letters of the alphabet.
of the alphabet. The signs at the foot of the monuments present detailed reconstructions of the original detailed reconstructions of the original appearance of the buildings. We often stop to read about Ingauna's history, forgetting that behind us there is a spectacular view of Gallinara Island.
spectacular view of the island of Gallinara. Soon we find a stretch of Roman road perfectly preserved perfectly preserved Roman road that is still visible and practicable; the cart track has the has the typical paving of the ancient roads of the Roman Empire, two pavements on either side, and two pavements on either side and a protective wall upstream. We pass this point and begin a short climb through the Mediterranean scrub.
Mediterranean scrub; we will no longer find any Romanesque remains.
Every corner by the sea offers wonderful views, including a glimpse of a villa with Russian a villa of Russian architecture directly overlooking the sea.
The road soon becomes paved and leads us to the 10th century church of Sant'Anna dei Monti. Century church of Sant'Anna dei Monti, which, according to some sources, was the first parish in Alassio.
The information is denied on several fronts, but we like to believe it.
At this point, a photo with the view of the small port of Alassio with its chapel is a must.
We still cover about 1.5 km and arrive at the square of S. Croce, our turning point.
buoy where, after passing a stone arch that in ancient times marked the border between Albenga and Alassio, we find the little church of the same name.
We stop for a few moments near the terraces underneath the religious
below the religious building, where we contemplate the horizon.
On clear days it is easy to see the mountains of Tuscany and Corsica.
We eat the usual "slerfa" of focaccia to recover from the energy spent,
we turn around and return to our car along the same road.
car.