Sanremo is one of my favourite places to visit and it’s only 40 kilometres from Menton. Hop a train in Menton – change in Ventimiglia, the first stop in Italy, and from there it’s about 15 minutes. Market day is a good day to go – Saturday or Tuesday, whether it be for the great food on sale – or if you want a bargain. You can even buy Italian viagra in Sanremo market – read on! The market has always had a reputation as a place where you could buy a fake Chanel or fake anything from some of the 250 stalls which are outside the covered food market. I think the police have tightened up a lot lately on counterfeit goods so that might not be so. As I only use a camera bag, what would I know …
Sanremo has been a tourist destination since the mid-1700s, attracting visitors such as the Russian and British aristocracy, including the Romanov family and other crowned heads. It still has a Riviera-style grandeur in its impressive old hotels but perhaps has less international visitors these days, although I’m told that Italians still consider it a chic resort. Sanremo is famous for its music festival – apparently where the Eurovision Song Contest originated, for its flowers (it’s called the City of Flowers) and for a bike race, the world’s longest professional one-day cycling race, the 298km Milan–Sanremo classic. Many locals know it though for its famous market.
Alfred Nobel bought a villa in Sanremo in 1891 and died there in 1896. Since 2002 it has housed a permanent exhibit on the most important discoveries of the 19th century including the research interests of Nobel himself. Sanremo continues to maintain its ties with Nobel, long after his death. Each 10 December (the date that Nobel died in 1896) large quantities of flowers sent by the province of Imperia, the city of Sanremo and the Board for Tourist Promotion of the Riviera dei fiori adorn the annual Nobel Prize Award Ceremony and Banquet in Stockholm.
Italian Viagra = hot chilli peppers!
Three types of asparagus – yummy!
No Paparazzi – ooops!
Obviously a regular customer
There’s always a handsome Italian to serve you. The sign says they only sell original products – ie no counterfeit
… and after the market, find somewhere nice for lunch
… you’ll probably be bothered by the street pedlars selling inferior fake handbags
After lunch, go exploring …
Buy a postcard … or admire a cute dog
The shops in Corso Matteotti, Sanremo’s pedestrian street, are too tempting …
Sanremo ladies are stylish
… and some change the way they look
The dogs are well-dressed too
The beautiful port
Sanremo’s famous Russian church
And if it rains, you’ll always find someone to sell you a cheap umbrella
And in French:
Sanremo est l’un de mes endroits préférés à visiter et c’est à seulement 40 kilomètres de Menton. On prend un train à Menton – on change à Vintimille, première gare en Italie, et à partir de là, il faut environ 15 minutes. Le jour du marché est une bonne journée pour y aller – samedi ou mardi – que ce soit pour l’achat de nourriture excellente, ou si on veut faire une bonne affaire. On peut même acheter du viagra italien dans le marché de Sanremo – lisez la suite! Le marché a toujours eu une réputation d’endroit où on peut acheter un faux Chanel ou autre contre façon sur les quelques 250 stands qui sont à l’extérieur du marché couvert alimentaire. Je pense que la police a renforcé les contrôles sur les contrefaçons ce qui complique les choses.
Sanremo est une destination touristique depuis le milieu des années 1700, attirant des visiteurs issus que l’aristocratie russe et britannique, y compris la famille Romanov et d’autres têtes couronnées. Il y reste encore une grandeur du style Riviera dans ses vieux hôtels impressionnants mais actuellement, il y a peut-être moins de visiteurs internationaux, même si on me dit que les Italiens considèrent qu’il s’agit toujours d’une station chic. Sanremo est célèbre pour son festival de musique – c’est de là qu’apparemment le Concours de l’Eurovision de la chanson tient son origine, pour ses fleurs (on l’appelle la Cité des Fleurs) et pour une course de vélo, la plus longue course cycliste professionnelle d’un jour au monde, le classique Milan-Sanremo de 298 km. Beaucoup de gens du pays ne la connaissent pourtant que pour son marché célèbre.
Alfred Nobel a acheté une villa à Sanremo en 1891 et y est décédé en 1896. Depuis 2002, Il s’y tient une exposition permanente sur les découvertes les plus importantes du 19ème siècle, y compris les intéressantes recherches de Nobel lui-même. Sanremo continue de maintenir ses liens avec Nobel, bien après sa mort. Chaque 10 décembre (date à laquelle Nobel est mort en 1896), de grandes quantités de fleurs envoyées par la province d’Imperia, la ville de Sanremo et le Conseil de promotion touristique de la Riviera dei fiori ornent la Cérémonie annuelle du prix Nobel et le banquet à Stockholm.
28 Comments
J’adore découvrir Sanremo dans tes magnifiques photos , Jilly. J’ignorais l’existence d’ une si belle église russe. Ma photo préférée: le chien dans la charcuterie !
Merci beaucoup, chere amie Agnes, et je te remercie encore une fois pour corriger mon français. Bises a toi xxx
Jilly, your blogs are always awaited for with impatience, and with the superb pics and captions of San Remo you have excelled.
Thank you. Laura
So happy you are enjoying the photos, dear Laura. I was a little late with this last blog. Apologies for that.
The Russian church is magnificent, and those dogs are adorable!
Yes it’s an incredible church – there’s another in Nice. Glad you like the dogs. Woof!
Jilly. Fond memories. Favourite photos- the well dressed little dog and the ‘go exploring’
Brian, how lovely to hear from you. So glad you enjoyed the post – I’m sure you have memories galore of Sanremo. Love to you x
Your photos are great! They tell of what makes Sanremo special!
Tom, thanks so much for your lovely comment. x
I love all of this, and especially the “regular customer.”
Petrea, no surprise you liked the regular customer. I watched him, once his owner had let him off-lead, run at speed the length of the market to this butcher’s shop!
Hi Jilly. My wife and I used to go to San Remo frequently but haven’t been in awhile. Your article may well spur us on. I like the train idea as the drive down into San Remo can be tedious and parking a bit of a challenge. We used to always have lunch at Piccolo Mondo which was very nice, not sure how it is these days. By the way we are coming up to Gorbio to do the hike up to Saint-Agnes before we leave in early May. Maybe we will see you as we wonder around your town.
The pictures are just great as usual.
Yes it’s really easy on the train. There is the longest walk imaginable tho to get from the train to the town. It’s a walkway – parts with a moving staircase but flat – like in big airports – seems excessive for a small place like Sanremo but they built the new train station about ten years ago. When you come up to Gorbio please drop me an email the day before and I’ll try and get up and say Hello. I live 2.5 ks below the village.
Lovely pictures to and sweet memories for me, I was there in 2012. That botoxed lady looks like Donatella Versacy!
Ha ha Marianne – yes she does rather, doesn’t she! As you’d know one sees a lot of similar ladies in Italy.
Gorgeous Jilly your photos and writing are sure to entice all who follow to make a trip there. Love love love every single pic but especially that little dog in its fluffy coat with its little leg in the air, so precious. Love to you clever one xxx
Millie, bless you for those lovely words. Of course you know San Remo too! So happy you like the photos – yes I like that little dog too – he was pretty much dancing. Love to you, dearest Millie xxx
Buying a lottery ticket today so I can come over and buy that fake bag!! —— So much to choose from ! LOL
Hope I find you well Jilly 🙂
Thank you Melinda. Hope you win the lottery! Wouldn’t that be something!
Dearest Jilly,
As always, we so enjoyed seeing your latest photos of San Remo – Your photographs always make your subjects looks so alive! We especially love the one of the dog with his paws up on the butcher counter – Having Bisquet,
we can really relate to that one! Keep the photos coming!
Suzanne xxx
Thanks so much Suzanne.So glad you have enjoying the post. I can imagine your Bisquet doing exactly the same as the dog in the butcher’s shop!
I never travel but after visiting your blog I feel as if I’ve been on an amazing vacation & now I’m relaxed, focused & ready to work! thanks!such beautiful photograph’s/stories
Helene, such beautiful words to my ears. I doubt any photographer could wish for more – thank you SO much. x
Love this post Jilly. So many great photos. Love the dog at the butcher!
Kris, thanks so much. I love that one too! Glad you like the photo. Thanks! x
Kris, thanks so much. I love that one too! Glad you like the photos. Thanks! x
Jilly je découvre ton blog
toujours de magnifiques photos
la première est admirable