End of Juni I was in Sanremo for a little escapade with Hubby.

It was one of those last minutes decision, I was looking for an address in google maps and by mistake I moved the mouse and the pointer landed there, in Saremo. I thought oh nice name, sounds familiar, and only 3 hours drive from La Ciotat!

I asked Xavier, if he would you like to go to Sanremo or his next day off. “Sounds nice” he says, and directly booked a Hotel with Spa and view to the Sea. He didn’t tell me which hotel to surprise me.

We hit the road at 10 am on Monday to avoid the rush hour and the stocking traffic near Toulon. 

After 3 hours road trip with a small stop to get gas, we arrived punctually for lunch. 

The first impression of the city was a bit to much: to noisy, to big, to hot. We were expecting something more “Mediterranean and relaxing.” We were a bit disappointed with the industrial look of the port and the beaches.

The hotel "Villa Sylva & Spa" on the other side was such a great relaxing place! Housed in a beautiful 18th century villa and in front of Villa Nobel, home of the famous inventor and founder of the Nobel Prize, Alfred Nobelis and close to the city center. Our room had a small terrasse with sea view, where we took our breakfast next morning accompanied by very peculiar neighbors who invited themselves and eat all the ham!

We spent the afternoon at the spa, resting after the long drive.

For dinner we went to the city center, without knowing about the treasure that she hides; the historic center of Sanremo that we would discover the next morning!



That night we eat and drink for free, because we were lucky to pass by a restaurant with a terrasse and live music that was celebrating their inauguration. They just invite us in the very festive Italian way.

Did you know that Sanremo is known as the City of Flowers

(la Città dei Fiori)?

All the way from the Hotel to the to the city center (about 1,5 km) is lined with villas dating back to the 17th and 18th centuries and aristocratic gardens covered with flourishing fruit trees. During the walk I admired the impressive architectural structures in Liberty style (Art Nouveau style). Some of the gardens reminded me the vegetation of Cuba! 

Sanremo is also known for its Jazz Festival, and now I remember why SANREMO sounds familiar I heard that name in “The Talented Mr. Ripley” from Patricia Highsmith, an American novelist and short story writer widely known for her psychological thrillers. If you don’t know the novel there is also a film with the same name starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow, Cate Blanchett and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The last stop of the two main characters ended in Sanremo, where they went to experience the Sanremo Jazz Festival and Lifestyle.

Further up, in Piazza Cassini and leaving the Chiesa di Santo Stefano on the right, the streets become cobblestone roads and we enter ancient grooved passages, surprisingly cool in the summer heat. A labyrinth of stone arches, narrow streets and colorful buildings from Roman times and even older. Very different from anything I have seen in Europe so far.