Alassio - The Via Julia Augusta and the Pathway of the Onda (Wave)
Alassio and Albenga with their views and trails welcome us for the fifth stage of #LiguriaTrekkingeXperience.
Here we face an easy ring path, rich in surprises as well.We walk in fact finding the old Roman evidences along the ancient Via Julia Augusta and plunging into the natural green spaces the path of the Onda offers and from the upper part of the crest we can admire the gorgeous gulf of Alassio.
Data of the trail
Difficulty:
E (Excursionist). Easy path
Standard Time:
3.30 h for the ring path; 1.30 h for Via Julia Augusta
Ascent:
300 m asl
Description of the route
The trekking ring path we face for this fifth stage of #LiguriaTrekkingeXperience includes two magnificent towns and two routes, both with its own peculiarities: the historical path of Via Julia Augusta and the naturalistic path of the Onda.
The towns are Alassio and Albenga, two famous picturesque coastal towns on the western Liguria to admire from above along our walking.
We leave Punta Santa Croce near the harbour of Alassio and at once it gives us a surprise and a taste of how rich in stories and ancient legends this land is.
Here we can admire the little church of Stella Maris, an old votive structure built on a place that local people call “the widows’ rock”: it is a rocky headland where ships often were dashed upon.
After a while we meet the nice Church of Santa Croce where Via Julia Augusta starts from, used by the ancient Romans to reach France with their goods.
This road was built in 13 b.C. by Ottaviano Augusto, crossing a large part of the Western Liguria. In fact we have already met it during our fourth stage of our adventure (read here).
But the part of the Julia Augusta that join Alassio to Albenga is the most interesting, especially from an archaeological point of view.
In fact along our hiking we can admire long stretches still showing the ancient Roman cobblestones. Then we find the first parish in Alassio, dated back to 1000 a. C. and principally we cross a necropolis with 8 Roman imperial funerary monuments.
We can also glimpse the amphitheatre and the Roman pillar inside a private property.
The really scenic path of the Onda, necessary for our coming back to Alassio, goes straight into the Mediterranean scrub vegetation and from here we can enjoy the wonderful view of the sea and the Isle of Gallinara.
Directions
After leaving Punta Santa Croce, we take the way leading to the Church of S. Croce, 100 m asl.
2 km onwards we reach the church with a stunning stone arch. Starting here Via Julia Augusta leads to Albenga by hiking a 5,5 km quite flat path.
As already said along this route we can see several archaeological remains and wonderful sights.
After an hour- walk, we come to the end of Via Julia Augusta. From here on we follow the path of the Onda by following the signpost drawing two red points.
This path goes to the crest up to 300 m high and it keeps onwards along the ancient parallel Roman road, passing a little bit above about 200 metres from the church of Santa Croce.
Suggested equipment
Good trekking shoes are requested for this stage, not so much as walking along Via Julia Augusta, as it is an easy and flat trail, but as the pathway of the Onda is often washed out, very similar to an excursion.
As no water sources are present along the two trails, we suggest to bring a good quantity of water with you.