Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
Known as the City of Flowers, or la Cittá dei Fiori, San Remo is one of the most popular seaside resort towns in Italy. Located on the northern Italian Mediterranean coast in the region of Liguria, San Remo is a beach lover’s paradise. The temperate climate and beautiful coastline draw millions of tourists here every year.
Besides its beautiful beaches and boardwalk, San Remo is the home of the San Remo Music Festival, the annual flower festival, the Milan San Remo Bicycle Race and the world famous Casino Municipale. San Remo’s historic old town, called La Pigna, is also a draw especially for architectural and history buffs.
Beaches and Boardwalk
The beautiful blue waters of the Mediterranean beckon visitors to San Remo’s famous beaches and many of them have accompanying restaurants and bars, along with cabanas and changing rooms for a price. A lot of San Remo’s waterfront hotels have arrangements with different beach areas and access is included for hotel guests at no fee. There are also some public access areas as well.
High above the sand and surf is a beautifully designed boardwalk, making for romantic evening strolls or just enjoyable daytime walks. Along this multi-colored boardwalk made of marble, at one point is the famous Primavera statue, which is a sculpture of a beautiful girl facing the sun with outstretched arms. All colors of flowers are planted at the base of her and you can just feel spring in the air at any time of year.
La Pigna
I loved walking around the old part of San Remo where the cobblestoned streets and inclined walkways present a surprise around every corner. Called La Pigna, the locals live in old houses built almost on top of one another in small alleyways and very steep streets. I felt like I was walking in a place just as it existed hundreds of years ago. The local people carry on life here taking the steep staircases in stride because this is their way of life and has been for centuries.
San Remo Music Festival
The oldest music festival in Europe is the Sanremo Music Festival, which occurs annually in February in the Ariston Theater and attracts music lovers from all over Italy as well as other places throughout Europe. The festival celebrated sixty years this year and is a venue for new talent with original compositions to attempt to make it to the celebrity status.
The San Remo Flower Festival
San Remo, with its mild climate in the winter, has earned the name, “the city of flowers” because of all the horticultural growing locations nearby. I could see the greenhouse coverings from above the city in the distance of all around the neighboring towns. So many varieties of flowers bloom very early in the year allowing the San Remo Flower Festival to be held in late January every year. It is broadcast on Italian TV throughout Italy with processions and floats for all to enjoy.
Milan San Remo Bicycle Race
This race is held every spring and is the longest one day pro cycling race, at 298 km or 185 miles. Since 1907 the Milan San Remo Bicycle Race has been held every year with three exceptions due to wars. Avid cycling enthusiasts train for this competitive race not only for the prestige of the win, but also the 20,000 Euro prize money. The race begins in Milan and ends in San Remo, with the top speed achieved as high as 45.8 km an hour, and that record was set by Gianni Bugno in 1990.
San Remo Casino
The Casino San Remo was built in 1905 in the Art-Nouveau style and centrally located in the city center. The casino has a lot of history including hosting the 1951 Miss Italia competition, and more recently the European Poker Tournament was held in October 2011. Its grand style takes up an entire city block and is a symbol for San Remo.
San Remo is the resort town in the Italian Riviera and offers so much more. I am glad I had a few days to enjoy the town as it is worth more than a day trip.
Guest Post By: Margie Miklas
