Overview
The ancient heart of the City of Flowers
The historic centre of Sanremo is an intricate maze of streets and alleyways that intertwine to resemble the scales of a pine cone. This peculiar layout gave the centre its name, “La Pigna”, which dates back to around the year 1000 and is still today the beating heart of the Ligurian town. Thousands of tourists stroll these alleys every year during the warmer months or take advantage of the mild winters on the Riviera di Ponente.
Your tour of La Pigna must begin at Porta di Santo Stefano, a 14th-century gateway dividing the old city from the new one. There are numerous squares and piazzas where you can stop for a coffee, perhaps accompanied by the sweet baci di Sanremo biscuits or for a quick focaccia lunch. Explore Piazza dei Dolori with its arcades, Piazza di Santa Brigida, a marketplace and open-air cinema in the summer, or Piazza Cisterna, a place fundamental to supplying the city with water in past centuries.
Other unmissable buildings in La Pigna include the 16th-century Saracen Tower, the Oratories of San Sebastiano and San Costanzo and the Church of St Joseph. For a break surrounded by greenery, relax at the Regina Elena Gardens and at sunset, you can enjoy a spectacular view of the entire old city and the sea.
18038 Sanremo IM, Italia
