Alassio is preparing to celebrate a historical bond that has lasted 150 years, with the arrival of the first British citizens who, between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and precisely starting in 1875, chose this pearl of the Riviera di Ponente overlooking the Baia del Sole as a home, a good retreat and a source of inspiration. It will do so with a widespread and intense cultural event that will involve the entire city: “Alassio and the English 1875–2025”, promoted by the Department of Tourism of the Municipality of Alassio, with the involvement of the Departments of Culture, Commerce, Sport and Animal Protection, and with the patronage of the Liguria Region and the De Mari Foundation.
And this year marks the 150th anniversary of the beginning of this fascinating story of Villa della Pergola: it was in fact 1875 when two Scottish gentlemen, George Henderson Gibb and General William Montagu Scott McMurdo, together with their families, spent an entire winter in Alassio. In the same period, General McMurdo purchased two large plots of land - Parco Fuor del Vento and Molino di Sopra - on the hill of Alassio, in the Costa area, from where the construction of Villino della Pergola began in the same year.
And it was precisely at Villa della Pergola, due to its highly symbolic value, that the programme of the event “Alassio and the English 1875–2025” was presented on 24 April.
In the presence of the hostess Silvia Arnaud Ricci, the Deputy Mayor of Alassio with responsibility for Tourism, Angelo Galtieri, the regional and municipal councilor Rocco Invernizzi and numerous members of the local and non-local press, the rich program of events in the city until May 31 was revealed.
Throughout the month of May, homage will be paid to the profound influence that the British presence has had on the cultural and architectural fabric of Alassio, with a rich calendar of events ranging from art, music, cinema, literature, sports and traditions in perfect British style.
All events, unless otherwise specified, are free and open to the public. Reservations are recommended for concerts, guided tours and the film marathon. The initiatives of the project “Alassio and the English 1875–2025” are illustrated in the dedicated section of the city’s tourist portal: www.visitalassio.com