Arriving in Sanremo, Italy

We take a short train ride from Nice, France, just over the border into Italy and stop at Sanremo to explore the city and spend the night.  Sanremo is located on the Mediterranean coast of Liguria and is known as a tourist destination, hosting numerous cultural events such as the Sanremo Music Festival and the Milan-San Remo cycling classic.  We find it a great city to explore with its extensive port and the ancient old town stretching back into the hills, dating back to the Roman settlements in the Middle Ages.

We arrive and start with a walk through the port.

Sanremo Casino

Walking to the port

Amusement park along the water

Santa Tecla Fort at the port (1756)

Continuing through the port

We stop for lunch along the way at a restaurant overlooking the water and the fort, Trattoria Santa Tecla, and dine fabulously on stuffed squash blossoms, squid ink risotto, seafood ravioli, and spaghetti aglio e olio.

Squash blossoms, risotto

Pastas

After lunch, we continue our stroll along the port, passing rows of restaurants facing the harbor and all kinds of ships and boats from luxury yachts to simple fishing craft.

Restaurants facing the water

Boats and ships in the port

Old lighthouse

We stroll from the port back into the main town and over to the main shopping street, Via Giacomo Matteotti.

Leaving the port

Passing through side streets

Reaching Via Giacomo Matteotti

The walk through the port is scenic and enjoyable, especially with a stop for lunch.  Now it's time to head up into the hills and explore the old town.

Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters Tennis

One of the incentives for stopping in Nice this trip is that the the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters tennis tournament is taking place almost next door, at the Monte Carlo Country Club in Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, France (which borders on Monaco).  The tournament was founded in 1896 and is one of the nine ATP Masters 100 tournaments on the ATP Tour.   Played on clay courts in a small venue, the feeling is intimate and friendly.

After a short train ride (changing trains in Monaco), we arrive in the temporary station at the country club.

Arriving

We have pre-purchased seats for a few of the courts and enjoy the beautiful day of tennis overlooking the sea.

Watching tennis

And, of course (we are in France), the Bar a Champagne is a popular spot during the tournament.

Bar a champagne

Views of the sea

What a great side trip!

Strolling Around Nice

The Old Town in Nice is separated from the Mediterranean by an elevated road with tunnels that offer glimpses of the sea.  We pass through one of the tunnels and stroll along the Promenade des Anglais, connecting to the Quai des Étas-Unis, which leads us around Castle Hill to the Old Port in Nice.  Castle Hill rises 92 meters (302 feet) above the city, with one side facing eastern edge of the old Town and the other, the western edge of the Old Port.

Tunnel to the sea

Emerging on the promenade

Map of the beaches

Rounding the point to the Old Port, viewing Castle Hill

Nice's Old Port was established in 1748 and is a great collection of 18th century buildings, luxury superyachts, traditional wooden fishing boats, and Corsica-bound ferries.

Nice Old Port

We wander, enjoying the sights, and pass the statue A dimanche a Nice (See you Sunday in Nice) by Stépane Cipre.

Sunday in Nice

We return to Castle Hill and walk up the steps for the top for the views (and a soda after all the walking in the warm spring weather).

Nice Old Town and Castle Hill

Views from Castle Hill

Returning through Old Town

Afternoon in Place Masséna

That evening, we stroll to the promenade on the sea for an aperitif, then return to La Favola for poulpe (again), linguine aux gambas, and pizza calabrese.

Sunset over the Mediterranean

Poulpe, gambas

Pizza

After dinner, we wander back through the lit-up Place Masséna, returning to our hotel to continue our travels just a bit into Italy tomorrow.

Place Masséna