Discover Il Muretto di Alassio

Last updated on October 22, 2026

Rate

See Il Muretto di Alassio through traveler photos →

Sources & verification Covers the sourced claims on this page.

Checked against Wikipedia — 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., The Muretto di Alassio -- also nicknamed the little wall of love and the little wall of the artists -- is an installation situated in the centre of the town of the same name, precisely along the corso Dante Alighieri. It consists of a wall composed of stones, characterised by the addition of small ceramic tiles. These tiles are adorned with signatures of famous figures, coats of arms of Italian and foreign comuni, and sculptures. Positioned beside the "Charlie Chaplin" playground and the square in which the monument to the fallen stands, the Muretto is found opposite the "Caffe Roma". It was in that very bar that, in 1953, the idea of beautifying an "anonymous and bare wall" was conceived by Mario Berrino, together with his brother Giorgio and with the United States writer Ernest Hemingway. It is universally recognised, together with the Baci di Alassio, as one of the most emblematic symbols of the town, so much so that Alassio is sometimes nicknamed "the Town of the Muretto"., The wall is now covered with about a thousand ceramic tiles with the reproduction of the autographs of famous figures -- initially those who had frequented Berrino's establishment, collected by him, and then over the years those who visited Alassio. There are also numerous tiles with the coats of arms of comuni, associations and clubs, and even of characters of fiction, such as Hansel and Gretel. The bronze statue of the Innamorati -- the lovers -- was then added above the little wall, the work of the sculptor Eros Pellini. From the years of its construction the Muretto has been considered the symbol of Alassio, a destination sought after by tourists from all over the world. On 25 March 2013, following the example of the Muretto di Alassio, the United States artist Sandra Chace inaugurated the Muretto dei Cani. Situated at the initial end of Corso Dante Alighieri, precisely in the giardini Morteo, this work of art presents, as of 2020, about 500 tiles depicting animals, mainly dogs but also rabbits and cats; a particularly significant element is the prominence given to the tiles destined for guide dogs for the blind., The Villa della Pergola is a historic residence of Alassio in Italy. The land on the hill of Alassio on which the villa stands was bought in 1876 by general William Montagu Scott McMurdo, who, together with his compatriot George Henderson Gibb, was among the first Britons to spend the winter period in the locality of Alassio. General McMurdo then had built, upon a pre-existing residence of the Counts della Lengueglia, a small villa in Anglo-Indian style baptised "Casa Napier" in honour of his father-in-law, general Sir Charles Napier; the villa proper, of eclectic style, was instead erected from 1880. From 1922 the property subsequently belonged to the Hanbury family. During the war period the estate remained closed and subject to confiscation; because of the lack of maintenance and the intrusions of wild animals a significant deterioration of the park occurred, a situation that worsened during the occupation of the German troops between 1943 and 1945. From the early nineteen-eighties the property passed temporarily to the De Martini family, who carried out some restoration interventions limited exclusively to the buildings. In 2006 the Park and the villas were the object of a judicial auction sale and were subsequently bought by a group led by Silvia and Antonio Ricci. In collaboration with the competent authorities, actions of conservation and recovery were carried out to preserve the historic dwellings and the garden, which was subsequently returned to public enjoyment. The two main villas present an eclectic style. An element of note is given by the dome clad in polychrome majolica of Albisola. The villas, today part of Relais & Chateaux, are immersed in a vast visitable park, rich in botanical species. (October 2026).

Discover Il Muretto di Alassio

Architecture

The short history

How it was built and evolved over time

Frequently asked questions

Discover Il Muretto di Alassio

Architecture

The short history

How it was built and evolved over time

Frequently asked questions

Recommended articles