San Remo: Discover The Monte Carlo Of Italy

San Remo is Italy's answer to Monte Carlo or Las Vegas – but with a distinctively Italian twist and a more laid-back atmosphere. It is a sun-dappled Mediterranean resort on the Ligurian Riviera and is known as the City of Flowers for the colourful blooms that blanket the area in the summer.

With picture-perfect beaches, pretty streets, architectural gems and its famous casino, it is a charming resort town and one of the key tourist destinations on the Italian coast. Just find a vacation rental in Liguria and discover this magical town for yourself.

Founded in Roman times, San Remo was once a settlement called Matutia or Villa Matutiana and expanded greatly during the Middle Ages. After passing through different hands several times and eventually became a free town in the 15th century.

It remained independent until the early 19th century, when it was annexed to the Kingdom of Sardinia and, ultimately, became part of the Italy we know today with the unification of the country. From the middle of the 18th century the town saw rapid growth, in part due to the development of tourism, and the first of the city's famous grand hotels were built. It attracted the likes of Empress "Sissi" of Austria, Empress Maria Alexandrovna of Russia and Emperor Nicholas II of Russia for holidays and was where Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel made his permanent home.

The Municipal Casino, one of the city's most famous attractions and something that helped put it on the map, was built in 1905 and is a lovely example of Art Nouveau. However, this town has much more to offer. It is steeped in history and culture and plays host to many events each year such as the Sanremo Music Festival (an annual music festival that supposedly inspired the Eurovision Song Contest) and the world's longest professional one-day cycling race, the 298km Milan–San Remo classic.

Other key attractions in the town include the lovely onion-domed Russian Orthodox church by the seafront; the Ariston Theatre with its annual series of concerts, operas and theatre plays; the 25km bike and walking path that tracks the coast as far as Imperia; the town's two character-filled harbours; the Symphony Orchestra (one of just twelve recognised by the state of Italy); and the Municipal Casino's Opera Theatre.

Whether you are enjoying the charming Old Town and wandering the restaurants and stores, taking in the seaside and glamour of the Belle Epoque hotels, trying your luck at the casino or soaking up the culture, this Mediterranean gem has an incredible amount to offer any visitor. It's no wonder it is one of Italy's best loved tourist destinations.