Holiday apartment in Ellera: ceramics, churches and hiking trails

If you are looking for a holiday apartment in Ellera, you can assess the village according to your preferred pace of holiday: in Ellera, ceramic art, historic churches and an extensive network of trails come together. The historic centre consists of picturesque vicoli, caruggi and small squares; at the same time, Ellera has become an open-air museum of ceramics. The Galleria all’aperto della Ceramica d’Arte in Ellera consists of artistic ceramic panels. On the central Piazza dell’Elce, Mario Leuci, known as 750ML, created the mural “Il Ceramista” in summer 2022.

Holiday apartment in Ellera between circular routes and viewpoints

The different routes help you compare day plans by distance and elevation gain. Ellera offers an approximately 2-kilometre circular route to the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. The Ellera–Bric Beia–Ellera circular route is 10 kilometres long and has an elevation gain of 500 metres. The Luceto–Canavisse–Ellera trail is approximately 7 kilometres long and connects Ellera with Luceto. For a longer tour, there is the Ellera–Le Cerce–Monte San Giorgio–Crovaro–Ellera circular route: it starts in Piazza Cairoli, is 16.50 kilometres long, has an elevation gain of 850 metres and takes approximately seven hours. Some of the trails suitable for trekking and cycling in Albisola Superiore’s hiking network, which is over 65 kilometres long and divided into approximately ten routes, begin in Ellera.

Landscape orientation around Ellera

The road designated as SP 2 bears the name Albisola Superiore–Ellera–Stella S.Giovanni. Bric Beia is a viewpoint overlooking the sea at Albisola and the wind turbines above it. The church of Santa Maria Maddalena stands on a rocky outcrop above the Sansobbia stream. The Ellera–Santa Maddalena–Ellera circular route leads to the Mulini d’Alto complex.

Churches and local history

The Abbey of San Quintino di Spigno had founded the churches of Santa Maria Maddalena and San Salvatore in Ellera. The church of Santa Maria was built at the end of the 10th century, when Ellera’s first settlement core was beginning to form. Santa Maria marks an important transition from early medieval to Romanesque architecture. At the end of the 16th century, Santa Maria served as the basis for a small bell tower. According to tradition, this function contributed to its preservation to the present day. Santa Maria Maddalena was built next to and in place of Santa Maria. In 1637, the inhabitants of Ellera began construction of the church of San Bartolomeo after securing the establishment of their own parish.

The history of ceramics along the trails

The trail passes the still-visible ruins of the Mulino del Gallò. The structure was one of ten colour mills built in the 17th century for producing materials used in ceramics. In 1640/41, Ellera had two colour mills. Thus, in Ellera, the history of ceramic craftsmanship is connected with churches, squares and trails through the landscape.

More destinations for travel planning

For further travel planning, you can also open the entries for Coasco, Bergeggi, Ceriale, Magliolo, Andora, Bormida-Genepro, Villalunga and Campochiesa.

To the higher-level travel overview: Savona.