The Belle Époque in Western Liguria: When Europe’s Aristocracy Discovered Sanremo and Bordighera

Articolo del June 13, 2026. Pubblicato in

The Belle Époque on the Riviera dei Fiori: The Golden Age of Sanremo and Bordighera

Walking today among the palm-lined promenades of Sanremo, the gardens of Bordighera, or the elegant façades of the Riviera dei Fiori’s historic hotels, it is difficult to imagine how profoundly this region helped shape the birth of modern European tourism.

Between the second half of the nineteenth century and the early years of the twentieth century, Western Liguria became one of Europe’s most exclusive destinations. Aristocrats, writers, painters, members of royal families, and wealthy travelers from across the continent chose these towns as winter retreats, drawn by the mild climate and brilliant light far from the harsh northern winters.

It was the era of the Belle Époque, a period of extraordinary economic, cultural, and social development that left a lasting mark still visible today throughout the Riviera dei Fiori.

Why Europeans Chose the Riviera dei Fiori

By the late nineteenth century, travel had become easier thanks to the expansion of railway networks connecting Liguria with Europe’s major capitals.

The exceptionally mild climate, exotic vegetation, the sea, and the proximity to the French Riviera quickly transformed the Riviera dei Fiori into a favored destination for the international aristocracy.

Travel guides of the period described Bordighera and Sanremo as ideal winter resorts thanks to their pleasant temperatures and healthy air.

Luxury hotels, elegant villas surrounded by gardens, and seaside promenades were built to accommodate a refined and cosmopolitan clientele.

Bordighera: The City of the English

Among all the destinations of Western Liguria, Bordighera developed perhaps the strongest connection with the British community.

The town’s international success began in 1871 with the publication of Doctor Antonio by the Italian-born writer Giovanni Ruffini. The novel became a bestseller in the United Kingdom and introduced thousands of readers to the beauty of Bordighera.

Within just a few years, the town evolved into a genuine British colony. Elegant villas, prestigious hotels, libraries, tea rooms, and even an Anglican church were established.

Even today, walking along Via Romana and through the historic gardens, visitors can still sense the legacy of that remarkable period.

Claude Monet and the Light of Bordighera

Among the most distinguished visitors to Bordighera was the Impressionist painter Claude Monet.

He stayed in the town in 1884 and was captivated by the extraordinary light, the palm trees, and the lush Mediterranean vegetation.

His letters reveal his amazement at the colors of the Riviera and his determination to capture on canvas a light unlike anything he had experienced elsewhere in Europe.

Many of the paintings created during his stay are now considered among the most important works of his Italian period.

Sanremo: The Social Capital of the Riviera

If Bordighera became a haven for the British, Sanremo emerged as the grand international salon of the Riviera dei Fiori.

Royal families, Russian aristocrats, German nobility, and wealthy European industrialists chose the city as a destination for extended stays.

It was during this period that many of modern Sanremo’s most iconic landmarks were created.

Corso Imperatrice, named after Tsarina Maria Alexandrovna, was adorned with palm trees gifted by the Russian Imperial Family. Elegant seaside hotels welcomed an international clientele, while gardens and promenades became gathering places for Europe’s high society.

The cosmopolitan atmosphere of these years helped define the city’s identity, and numerous Belle Époque landmarks can still be admired today.

The Casino and Art Nouveau Architecture

One of the most visible symbols of this era is the Sanremo Casino, inaugurated in 1905.

The building is among the finest examples of Art Nouveau architecture in Liguria and reflects the ambition to create a destination capable of competing with the most prestigious resorts of the French Riviera.

Around the Casino, luxury hotels, elegant villas, and residences surrounded by subtropical gardens transformed Sanremo into one of the Mediterranean’s most fashionable destinations.

Villas, Gardens, and Architecture That Tell a Story

The Belle Époque left more than monumental buildings behind—it transformed the very landscape of the Riviera dei Fiori.

Many of the palm trees that now define the seafronts of Sanremo and Bordighera were introduced during this period. Botanical gardens, greenhouses, and private parks hosted plant species from around the world, creating an exotic atmosphere that fascinated visitors from Northern Europe.

Today, historic villas, grand hotels, and panoramic promenades continue to tell the story of that extraordinary era when Western Liguria ranked among Europe’s most prestigious destinations.

A Heritage Waiting to Be Rediscovered

Visiting Sanremo and Bordighera today is like taking a journey through the history of European tourism.

Behind the elegant façades, gardens, and palm-lined avenues lies the story of a time when the Riviera dei Fiori was synonymous with luxury, culture, and innovation.

Many visitors arrive attracted by the sea and the mild climate, but a closer look at the villas, promenades, and historic buildings reveals the enduring traces of a Belle Époque that still shapes the unique charm of the far western Ligurian Riviera.

 

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