Sanremo: Hotels & Evening Entertainment

Things to do during the day

• La Pigna, the old town, dates from around the year 1000 and owes its name to a layout that resembles a pine cone. It is entered from Piazza Cassini through the 14th-century Porta di Santo Stefano.^{2, 5}
• The Russian Orthodox church, with its five onion-shaped domes, stands a few steps from the casino and is open to the public.⁵
• Villa Nobel, where Alfred Nobel lived from 1891 until his death in 1896, is now a museum. The park of Villa Ormond, about 200 metres away, has exotic plants and a Japanese garden.^{2, 5}
• A cycle and pedestrian path follows the coast on a former railway line; the national and regional tourism sites give its length as 24 kilometres. Bicycles can be rented at several points in town.^{1, 4, 7}
• The Forte di Santa Tecla, built by the Republic of Genoa at the old port in the 18th century, was returned to the town in 2016 and now holds exhibitions and cultural events.^{2, 5}
• The Regina Elena Gardens above La Pigna and the Madonna della Costa sanctuary on the hill give views over the roofs of the old town and the sea.^{2, 5}
• Bussana Vecchia, a village abandoned after the earthquake of 1887 and later resettled by artists, is about 10 kilometres from Sanremo along the cycle path.^{2, 5}

Evening ideas

• Casinò di Sanremo is open every day, and gives its closing time as 2.30 a.m. or 4 a.m.⁹
• The Ariston Theatre on Via Matteotti, where the Italian Song Festival is held, is also a cinema and hosts events through the year.⁵
• The Sanremo Symphony Orchestra plays about 100 concerts a year in the theatre inside the casino.¹¹
• The casino's Roof Garden restaurant, on a terrace with a view of the town and the sea, hosts events and shows in summer. Its Bistrot is open every evening from 7 p.m.^{12, 13}

Restaurants and bars

• Sardenaira is the local flatbread, topped with tomato, anchovies, Taggiasca olives, capers and garlic. The town's tourism site says it is sold in every bar and bakery.^{3, 6}
• Other local specialities are the Sanremo red shrimp, fished in the waters off the town, and brandacujun, a dish of stockfish and potatoes with olive oil.^{3, 6}
• Baci di Sanremo, pairs of hazelnut and cocoa biscuits joined by a chocolate cream, are sold in the town's pastry shops and cafés.⁶
• Wines of the province of Imperia include Rossese di Dolceacqua, Pigato, Ormeasco di Pornassio and Vermentino.⁶
• The Mercato Annonario, the covered food market, has stalls of local producers. The national tourist board lists it as open from Monday to Saturday, 6 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.^{2, 5}

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