Sanremo - Concattedrale di San Siro

Sanremo has Roman origins, it prospered in the Middle Age, when the population moved from the coast to high grounds. The town (named
"La Pigna" was walled for protection Saracen raids.

It became a free town in the 15th century. In 1753 it rose against Genoese hegemonical attempts. But Genoa built the fortress of Santa Tecla, situated the port. The fortress still exists. It was used as a prison until 2002. It is now being transformed into a museum.

In 1814, Sanremo was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia. From the middle of the 18th century, the town grew rapidly, in part due to the development of tourism, which saw the first grand hotels built and the town extended along the coast. Similar to nearby Nice the nobility holidayed here. "Sissi", Empress of Austria, loved Sanremo. Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia spent a winter here. Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel made Sanremo his permanent home.

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A church existed here already in the 9th century. The church of today was built by Comacini masters in the early twelfth century. From 1619 on the church got modified and finally, the Romanesque structure was transformed into Baroque in 1668. In 1745 a bombing carried out by an English naval formation caused the collapse of part of the roof and facade. After the revolt against the Republic of Genoa in 1753, the bell tower got demolished for punishment. It was then rebuilt in Baroque style

In 1901 restoration works were started on the Romanesque aspect. These works were officially completed in 1948.