To fully immense yourself in this magical village , mobility is ectremely important. Therefore hiring a car or scooter is by far the best option.
Along the banks of the Sansobbia torrent, a few kilometres from Albisola Superiore, you can admire Ellera, a small medieval village, which currently has about 500 residents. The origins of this village date back to the 10th century. Ellera is situated along an ancient valley floor route from the coast to Montenotte and Stella.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Although Sarecen pirates were constantly attacking and looting villages along the Savonna coast, Ellera was extremely difficult to conquer. It was safe and protected from invaders. And as a result lots of people preferred migrated to Ellera. For economic survival, the people of Ellera relied on agriculture and trading. From the 16th century onwards, numerous houses scattered over the surrounding hills were added to the historic core of the village, giving rise to new hamlets: Olmo, Magrania, Canavisse, Magrini, Barletto, Marroni and Pernigari. For several years, Ellera was owned by the Holy See empire, through the Abbey of San Colombano di Bobbio (Piacenza). More recent history sees this area as the scene of several Napoleonic battles: on the edge of Monte San Giorgio, one of the highest mountains in the area, the Napoleonic army faced and conquered the Austrian army.
What to see in Ellera
Renting a vehicle to explore this village has more pros than cons , some of which are freedom of movement and the availability of a vehicle customized to your taste . Arriving near the village, on a rocky outcrop overlooking one of the many bends in the Sansobbia River, you will be greeted by the pre-Romanesque church of Santa Maria which was built towards the end of the 10th century. According to local legends, this church was founded by a hermit who, among other things, brought the cultivation of olives to Ellera. But the legends don’t end here. In fact, it is also said that even today, as in the past, some witches who live in a cave not far from the village, gather every year to honour the summer solstice in a clearing surrounded by an impenetrable tangle of brambles, dancing naked around the fire and singing tribal melodies. Finally, if you are an art lover, the village has become an open-air museum in recent years, thanks to the many ceramic panels created by contemporary artists and placed almost everywhere in the narrow streets of the centre.
