Discover Altare: Glassmaking History, Fortresses and Monte Burotto

Altare focuses on the history of glassmaking, historic buildings and a landscape that also offers interesting points of focus for planning your trip. If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Altare, you can organise your stay around cultural discoveries, historical impressions or exploring the surrounding landscape.

Villa Rosa and the glassmaking tradition

Villa Rosa was opened to the public in 2004 as the home of the Museo dell’Arte Vetraria Altarese. This places a specific site at the centre of the history connecting Altare with glassmaking. Tours of the museum collection and Villa Rosa can be booked by email or telephone.

The craft’s development extends beyond individual buildings. Glass masters from Orléans and Nevers came to Altare to organise and teach this demanding craft. Altare still has workshops that continue the old tradition of glassblowing. Here, the museum, inherited skills and living craftsmanship offer different ways of encountering the town’s history.

Fortresses and sacred buildings

Altare’s military past is also part of its character. The Sbarramento di Altare fortress complex was built towards the end of the 19th century at the Cadibona Pass. For your planning, it is also important to note that the Forte di Altare complex is currently inaccessible.

Older evidence can be found in the sacred buildings. The Oratorio di San Rocco was built in 1590. The Chiesa di Nostra Signora dei Prati contains frescoes in the local artistic style that allegedly depict scenes from the lives of Saints Nazarius and Celsus. The date, building and artistic tradition each add their own historical emphasis.

Monte Burotto and stage SI G23

The Monte Burotto mountain lies in the vicinity of Altare. Stage SI G23 of the Sentiero Italia leads from the Colle di Cadibona to Forte di Monte Burotto. The starting and finishing points provide concrete orientation if you wish to include the landscape and historic sites in your travel considerations.

When choosing your holiday apartment in Altare, you can therefore weigh up whether the glassmaking tradition, historic buildings or the area around Monte Burotto should be the focus of your stay. The different themes are suited to travel planning in which cultural sightseeing and interests in the landscape stand side by side, without a single attraction having to determine the entire stay.

Getting to the museum and inherited traditions

The Museo dell'Arte Vetraria Altarese can be reached via the ALTARE exit of the A6 E717 Torino-Savona motorway. The motorway connection provides a clear practical reference point for finding your way to the museum locally. The traditional Messa del Fuoco is also part of the local heritage. This old rite marked the beginning of the glassmaking season and complements the history of the craft with a firmly established custom.

Other places that you can include in your travel considerations are Vado Ligure, Stellanello, Varigotti, Carcare, Menosio, Magliolo, Borghetto Santo Spirito and Toirano.

For the overarching travel overview: Savona.