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AREA:
54 sq km.
POPULATION:
56,168 HEIGHT
ABOVE SEA LEVEL (m): 15 WEB
SITE:
www.sanremonet.com |
Lying
in a natural amphitheatre between Capo Verde and Capo Nero, Sanremo is a
tourist resort of international importance.
The area was inhabited in the Palaeolithic era, in the Iron Age and in
Roman times (see Villa Matruciana near the cathedral). However, during
mediaeval times the population fled to the high country and built a walled
town to defend themselves from Saracen invaders.
The town passed from the dominion of the Ventimiglia nobility to that of
the bishops of Genoa and later to the Doria and De Mari families in 1297.
From the second half of the fourteenth century, it became an independent
municipality and expanded inland as far as the slopes of Monte Pigna and
San Siro.
The old town area has a rich mediaeval heritage. The town's vocation for
élite tourism dates back to the nineteenth century, with the construction
of the first large hotels and the expansion of the town along the coast.
The modified cathedral of San Siro originally dates back to the thirteenth
century: the original parts that remain are the central rosace and part of
the lateral mullioned windows. The interior preserves a Crucifix by
Maragliano and a canvas by Pancalino showing San Siro and other saints
(1548). Nearby is the oratory of the Immacolata Concezione (sixteenth
century), with frescoes by Merano, and the baptistery, which was built on
former Roman foundations and those of an earlier church: it holds a
painting by Orazio De Ferrari. The church of Santo Stefano was rebuilt by
the Jesuits in the middle of the seventeenth century and preserves a
painting by Piola and frescoes by Merano.
The single-nave sanctuary of the Madonna della Costa goes back to the
seventeenth century: here you can admire frescoes by Giacomo Antonio Boni
and a painting from the Barnaba da Modena school (late fourteenth century)
as well as a painting by Domenico Fiasella.
Palazzo Borea d'Olmo is an impressive Baroque building that was partly
rebuilt in the eighteenth century: it houses the Archaeology Museum
(prehistoric and Roman exhibits). The late nineteenth-century buildings
are also of great charm: among the most interesting are Villa Ormond, with
its surrounding parkland, and Villa Alfred Nobel, the residence of the
famous scientist.
The orthodox church of San Basilio dates from the twentieth century. Also
dating from this century are the Municipal Casino, an art nouveau building
designed by Eugenio Ferret, and Portosole, the new leisure port (800
boats), which also has a sports complex. Among the famous people who have
stayed at Sanremo was Maria Alexandrovna, Empress of Russia: the seafront
promenade bears her name.
The prestigious Song Festival and the vocation for floriculture have
helped to increase the international reputation of Sanremo.
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