Ellera: Ceramics, Churches and Hiking Trails

Ellera between Ceramic Art and Hiking Trails

Ellera combines historic townscapes, ceramic art and paths into the surrounding countryside. If you would like to combine culture and hiking on your trip, you will find several specific points of interest here: the historic center, churches with long histories and routes with clearly different distances. These themes can help guide your daily planning when choosing your accommodation. For local orientation, the road designated as SP 2 bears the name Albisola Superiore–Ellera–Stella S.Giovanni.

Townscape and Ceramics

The historic center of Ellera consists of picturesque vicoli, caruggi and small squares. On the central Piazza dell’Elce, Mario Leuci, known as 750ML, created the mural “Il Ceramista” in summer 2022. The Galleria all’aperto della Ceramica d’Arte is also part of the townscape: it consists of artistic ceramic panels. Ellera has become an open-air museum of ceramics, where contemporary art connects with the town’s craft history.

Hiking Trails on Different Scales

Several routes start in Ellera or lead to special points in the surrounding area. The Ellera–Le Cerce–Monte San Giorgio–Crovaro–Ellera circular route starts at Piazza Cairoli, is 16.50 kilometers long, includes 850 meters of elevation gain and takes approximately seven hours. Shorter is the Ellera–Bric Beia–Ellera circular route, with 10 kilometers and 500 meters of elevation gain. Bric Beia is a viewpoint overlooking the sea from Albisola and the wind turbines above it.

The Luceto–Canavisse–Ellera trail is approximately 7 kilometers long and connects Ellera with Luceto. Ellera also offers an approximately 2-kilometer circular route to the church of Santa Maria Maddalena. The Ellera–Santa Maddalena–Ellera circular route leads to the Mulini d’Alto complex. Some of the trails suitable for trekking and cycling in Albisola Superiore’s hiking network, which is over 65 kilometers long and divided into approximately ten routes, begin in Ellera. The different distances and elevation gains provide a concrete basis for aligning your daily planning with your own interests.

Churches from the Early Middle Ages to the Present

The church of Santa Maria was built at the end of the 10th century, when Ellera’s first settlement nucleus began to take shape. It marks an important transition from early medieval to Romanesque architecture. At the end of the 16th century, Santa Maria served as the foundation for a small bell tower; according to the traditional account, this function contributed to its preservation into the present day.

Santa Maria Maddalena was built next to Santa Maria and on its site. The Abbey of San Quintino di Spigno had founded the churches of Santa Maria Maddalena and San Salvatore in Ellera. In 1637, the inhabitants of Ellera began building the church of San Bartolomeo after securing the establishment of their own parish. Santa Maria Maddalena stands on a rocky promontory above the Sansobbia stream, combining the sacred character of the site with a striking position in the landscape.

Traces of the Pigment Mills

The history of ceramic production can also be seen along the trails. In 1640/41, there were two pigment mills in Ellera. The path passes the still-visible ruins of the Mulino del Gallò, one of ten pigment mills established in the 17th century to produce materials for ceramics.

Other Places in the Same Area

Vezzi San Giorgio, Magliolo, Calice Ligure, Casanova Lerrone, Ortovero, Giusvalla, Toirano and San Pietro D'olba

For the main travel overview: Savona.