The second edition of the event celebrating the city's British soul was presented at Villa della Pergola, coming to Alassio throughout the month of May.
For the second consecutive year, Alassio celebrates its historical bond with the British community, a friendship of nearly one hundred and fifty years that has left a deep mark on the city's cultural identity and appearance.
On April 10th, at Villa della Pergola, the second edition of "Alassio and the English – Since 1875" was presented. Speakers included Mayor Marco Melgrati, Deputy Mayor Angelo Galtieri, regional and municipal councillor Rocco Invernizzi, and Silvia and Antonio Ricci. The initiative stems from a collaboration between the Municipality of Alassio, the Alassio Destination Network — with resources from the tourist tax managed by the Local Tourism Committee — and the patronage of the Liguria Region.
There is something perfectly symbolic in the choice of Villa della Pergola as the stage for "Alassio and the English." The Gardens — named "Most Beautiful Park in Italy" and welcomed as a "Partner Garden" of the Royal Horticultural Society, the ancient botanical institution of which King Charles III is patron — are themselves living witnesses to the bond between Alassio and British culture.
Throughout the month of May, the city will come alive with a rich calendar of events: music, cinema, cultural encounters, sports and outdoor activities. A programme designed to tell the story of the Anglo-Saxon heritage, showcase the symbolic places of this history and offer entertainment opportunities for residents and visitors alike.
Among the stops along the route, several places preserve the memory of this connection: the Richard West Memorial Gallery with the English Library, the former Anglican Church, the historic clubhouse of the Hanbury Tennis Club, and the Gardens of Villa della Pergola — spaces tied to British families, such as the Dalrymples and the Hanburys, who helped write the city's history, and who this very year celebrate the 20th anniversary of their rescue.
"Exactly twenty years ago," declares Silvia Ricci, "we committed ourselves to saving Villa della Pergola from potential property speculation: it was an act of love I would do again without hesitation, and time has proved us right. The villas and Gardens are deeply rooted in the extraordinary bond between Alassio and the English community, which, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, chose this riviera as a place of the soul, leaving an indelible historical, cultural and botanical mark of which Villa della Pergola, with all its facets, is an important expression. Today, restored to its original splendour through years of dedication by my family, together with architect Ettore Mocchetti and renowned landscape designer Paolo Pejrone, Villa della Pergola is internationally recognised as a symbol of resistance and resilience and as a model for the protection and enhancement of the territory, preserving unique collections of excellence in its Gardens. A place where nature, beauty and memory meet every day."
The standout new feature of this edition is the Italian premiere of the Elgar International Music Festival – "From Elgar to the New Masters", artistically directed by Sasha Grynyuk and coordinated by Patrizia Zanardi in collaboration with the London Music Fund. The Festival brings to the former Anglican Church a series of evening concerts featuring young talents from the most prestigious British music institutions: the Royal College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, the Yehudi Menuhin School and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance.
The initiatives of the "Alassio and the English – Since 1875" project are detailed in the dedicated section of the city's tourism portal: https://www.visitalassio.com/it/eventi-importanti/alassio-e-gli-inglesi