Isola Gallinara

Uninhabited island nature reserve visible from Alassio's beach — medieval Benedictine monastery, Roman shipwrecks, and seabird colonies

Isola Gallinara is a small uninhabited island 11 hectares in area visible from Alassio's beach, sitting equidistant between the Marina di Alassio and the town of Albenga. Since 1989 it has been a Regional Natural Reserve, protecting its rare plant species and the large herring gull colony that breeds on the cliffs. The surrounding waters have been included in the European Sites of Community Importance network and contain Roman shipwreck artefacts discovered by divers.

The island is not generally accessible to tourists, but it can be viewed from the water on boat trips from Alassio marina. Its distinctive humped profile — described as resembling a turtle — is a constant presence on the horizon from the beach, and one of the defining features of the Alassio seafront view. In 2020 the Italian Ministry of Culture acquired the island following a controversial proposed sale, making it public property.

things to do sight wildlife
A story
The island takes its name from the wild hens (galline) that once lived here. But its most distinguished resident was St Martin of Tours, who lived here as a hermit in the 4th century before becoming one of the most venerated saints in Western Christendom. The Benedictine monastery built in his memory later owned much of the surrounding mainland, including Alassio itself, for several centuries.