Historic centre of Albenga, Medieval old town in Albenga, Italy

The Historic Centre of Albenga is a medieval old town in Liguria that still follows the street grid laid out in Roman times. Narrow lanes run between tightly packed buildings, and a series of towers built by medieval noble families rise above the rooftops across the area.

The first certain settlement was that of the Ingauni, an ancient people, around the 6th century BC; by the 4th century BC Albenga had a fortified wall circuit. After allying with Carthage against Rome in the Punic Wars, the town was conquered by Rome in 185–181 BC. In the 13th century the river Centa changed its course, silting up the harbour and cutting the town off from the sea.

The Cathedral of San Michele Arcangelo stands at the heart of the old town, surrounded by narrow lanes where small shops and workshops have been part of daily life for generations. The mix of religious buildings and lived-in streets gives the place a sense of continuity that is easy to notice as you walk through.

The centre is best explored on foot, as many of the lanes are closed to vehicles and the area is compact enough to cover without transport. The paving is uneven in places and some stretches can be slippery, so sturdy shoes make the visit much easier.

The level of the 5th century can be read in the baptistery, which stands at about 3 metres, while Roman remains lie 4 to 6 metres below today's street level. The ground rose because the river Centa shifted its bed in the 13th century and silted up the harbour; the levees built in the 20th century slowed the process.