Sights

Built in the middle Ages, the original city, to defend themselves from the domination of the Saracens, and Dorian, extends inland from the coast, in the Pigna’s.

Today, dominated by the baroque sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, it’s appears, with houses clinging to each other and winds through steep, narrow streets and small characteristic squares.

At the turn of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, born the modern city, built near the sea, San Remo was transformed from fishing village into an elegant tourist destination of world renown.

At that time, thanks to the mild climate, the city is populated with famous people who came to spend the winter, as the Tsarina of Russia, the composer Tchaikovsky, Crown Prince Friedrich Wilhelm of Germany and Alfred Nobel. They began to build their first houses and the Casino to enjoy their stay of foreigners.

In the middle of the twentieth century the Italian Song Festival allowed the city to increase even more with his fame and the other major events, tourism and sports, such as the classic Milan-Sanremo, the Corso Fiorito, the World Rally, not to forget high level of sailing races, Horse Racing and Golf.

At San Remo, can’t visit the street market that takes place in PIAZZA EROI SANREMESI every Tuesday and Saturday mornings. Here you will find from clothing to leather, without leaving the household items.

Il Casino Municipale La Chiesa Russa Villa Nobel

Also worth visiting is the old town of Pigna, overlooking the hill, the medieval quarter, built in concentric rings to protect it from attacks by pirates and Saracens who once threatened populations of coast. You can imagine the ancient village, passing through the gates that surrounded the walls, reaching the heart of the village squares, until you reach the Sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa, who dominates the whole city, where you can admire a breathtaking panorama of the city especially with the sunset.

Built in the thirteenth century in the city centre in Romanesque-Gothic style on the remains of a primitive Christian church, the Cathedral of San Remo San Siro is the other most significant religious building.

Inside you can watch the eighteenth-century wooden crucifix above the altar, more majestic. On the square of the basilica you will find the Baptistery of San Giovanni Battista, with inside fabric of the Communion of the Magdalene Orazio De Ferrari, Oratory of the Immaculate Conception in the Baroque style.

Into the cultural monuments are mentioned: the Russian Orthodox Church of Christ the Redeemer and St. Catherine, built in the early twentieth century. Built in the early twentieth century, this implies that the colony was an influential Russian who came to stay during the winter in the City of Flowers. The Church is imposing with its dome, its golden crosses and steeples polychrome majolica.

Among the streets of downtown attractions include the Archaeological Museum which houses prehistoric paintings and engravings and the collection of Caroline Phillipson, English noblewoman friend of Garibaldi.

The villas originally inhabited by the nobility and rich bourgeoisie Central Europe, with their gardens take us back to the Belle Epoque that characterized the city the first years of the twentieth century. Worth a visit Villa Nobel and Villa Ormond, a short distance from each other, both surrounded by a beautiful park, you will also find the first permanent museum of Nobel relics together, while the second features a miniature Japanese garden as a tribute to the city of Atami Sol Levante, twin city of Sanremo.

You can’t leave out the Devachan Castle, who hosted in 1920 the International Conference of the Straits for the division of the territories of the Ottoman Empire at the end of World War I, Zirio Villa, home of the German Crown Prince Frederick William, with its park-designed garden by Ludwig Winter, gardener of the King of France, Napoleon III, now houses the Municipal Department of Tourism.

The Riviera Ligure di Ponente is characterized by many cities and towns, each with its own history and renowned for their beauty. Sanremo is a good starting point for exploring the Riviera and inland.

Starting our tour from The Riviera Ligure di Levante, just past San Remo meet the old Bussana, inner medieval town was destroyed by earthquake in 1887, is now home to artists and their studios, workshops and exhibitions, and Bussana more modern, dominated by the Sacred Heart Church.

A little further on there, going to Arma di Taggia, you have Taggia with its historical and architectural heritage, where you must visit Dominican Convent, built starting in 1460 with a museum inside.

Taggia exceeded, rising in the hinterland come to Badalucco, an ancient fortified stronghold of the Counts of Ventimiglia, after you come to Triora Mills, the country with twenty-three mills, until it reaches Triora, now known as "the land of the Witches", you find the ethnographic museum and witchcraft and curious shops that sell liquor artiginali the witch and milk snail.

Sharing from Sanremo, the interior is also very interesting that overlooks the town of flowers, climbing the hill of Poggio, famous for the classic Milan-San Remo, Ceriana is reached, a typical rural village known for the production of olive oil, continuing you get to Bayard, a village which enjoys a panoramic position overlooking the Ligurian Alps and French, to finish in Pigna, capital of the Val Nervia, derives its name from the fruit of pine, famous not only that it seems his past, even for the characteristics of the sulfur source of water in Lake Pigo, where you will find a spa for crenotherapy.

Villa Hanbury Triora Badalucco

Wanting to return to the sea, continuing the road from Pigna, meets Isolabona, recognizable from his castle with a square tower, from here you can return to Sanremo, via Apricale, with its castle and summer becomes a stage for performances theatrical and culinary events, Perivale, famous for its astronomical observatory, and San Romolo, a natural park of San Remo.

Wanting to drive along the coast towards France, leaving from San Remo, which leads first to Ospedaletti, a small natural amphitheater favored by a mild climate, a few km to Bordighera, a popular early English travelers from the beginning of the twentieth century.

Hailed Bordighera, Ventimiglia you get to where you will be captivated by the three souls of the city, the soul with the archaeological remains of Roman civilization, medieval distinguished from the soul of the Assumption Cathedral with the Baptistery, and ending with modern soul characterizes the center of the city whose symbol is the big market every Friday.

We first arrived near the border of the Cape Mortola, where you can find Villa Hanbury and his garden, a botanical garden with rare species of exotic plants, and then we arrive at Balzi Rossi, where you can swim in crystal waters and visit the caves with rock paintings left by Homo Erectus.

Immediately after the border, we meet Menton, a town feature styles and scents of Provence, famous for his "Fête du Citron" Lemon Festival, where parade floats are all decorated with lemon and orange trees.

Passed Menton you arrived at Principality of Monaco, the smallest independent monarchical state in Western Europe. Dominated by the castle where the prince lives, you can walk the streets where he competed the Formula 1 Grand Prix and you can visit the Oceanographic Museum, the Garden Exotica and the famous Casino. Inland from Monte Carlo, Eze, this small medieval village is worth a visit; you'll be amazed by the panorama that you can admire the remains of the Castle.

Eze-Village Menton Nice

A few kilometers from Monaco, Nice you have, the capital of the Côte d'Azur is one of the major cities of France, you can stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, and the waterfront of the city often hosts events such as Carnival.

You can make shopping at Place Massena and explore the narrow streets of old Nice. In the hinterland of Nice, between all the villages, Lucéram is the most famous medieval village that transforms into a circuit of nativity scenes at Christmas time, hosts hundreds of cribs.

Returning to the coast, shortly behind Nice, Antibes Juan Les Pins meets, famous for its tourism and nightlife.

Exceeded Antibes, Cannes is reached, known worldwide for its Film Festival and its promenade of the Croisette.

Here you have the opportunity to visit the Islands of Lerins, a legend that has been the home of the forced " Iron Mask "twin of the Sun King, made by Cardinal Richielieu exile.
In the hinterland of Cannes, there is the world's perfume capital, Grasse; in this small town is located Fragonard industry, which dates back to the sixteenth century. Last but not least, Saint Tropez, a typical Provencal village owes its fame to celebrities who stay there, but inside you can visit the scents of Provence and its market gardens and parks.