For our annual break back in 2009, me and my other half headed to a friends family home on the picturesque French/Italian border. Here's a review I wrote for travelbite.co.uk about our adventure...
At the heart of the Italian Riviera lies the seaside city of San Remo, sandwiched neatly between the warm Mediterranean and the Maritime Mountains.
Once the playground of Europe's aristocracy, today the area enjoys popularity from Italian and German tourism; but as I found, the English voice is rarely heard on San Remo's sunny shores.
No doubt overshadowed by its popular French neighbour, Nice, San Remo's recognition as a British tourist destination appeared to be rather silent on my trip there in early September. But with a balmy climate, and plenty to see and do, the area is a real gem of a short-haul trip; particularly for the budget-conscious traveller.
With flights into Nice on many low-cost airlines, the onward journey to the Italian city is easily reached under an hour by train if you don't fancy renting a car; a decision I was glad to have made as it afforded the opportunity to gaze out of the window at the winding coastline, including the luxurious Monte Carlo.
Once in San Remo there's a huge amount to do for those who don't fancy being a beach bum, none of which will break the bank:
A newly created cycle path runs right along the coast through San Remo. Local businesses have cottoned on to the money-making possibilities from this pursuit, and if you shop around there are some really good deals for renting bikes. For 16 Euros each, we were able to rent bikes for the whole day, complete with locks and basket!
Given that most of the track winds along the beachside, it is relatively flat, a fact you'll be glad of in the midday heat. And what's more, you can go for miles in either direction using San Remo or Arma di Taggia as your base. We particularly enjoyed stopping off for gelato in Santo Stefano al Mare, and drinking early morning coffee on the beach front just west of San Remo.
The track is particularly suited for families, as the only traffic is other bikes, making it safe for little ones, and the paths are wide, running in either direction. Many of the rental shops also have bikes with baby seats for those too little for stabilisers.
Rather ambitiously we rented bikes from Arma di Taggia and decided to cycle to an artists colony in the hills we had heard about. If you value your knees at all, this is a bad idea, and with hindsight I'd recommend car or bus. But if you're feeling fit then it's a lovely winding journey up the side of a very steep mountain to this small Italian paradise at the top.
We were lucky enough to have been told about Bussana Vecchia by a local Italian we know from home, but part of the wonder of this tiny place is its anonymity. Formed by an artist colony after an earthquake devastated the village, galleries and restaurants are now built among the ruins.
The higgledy piggledy nature adds real warmth, and if you've ventured up the mountain on foot or cycle your aching muscles are soon forgotten as each turn proves something exciting to explore. The discerning art lover will find the galleries varied, with sculpture, watercolour, ceramics and acrylics to suit. Each gallery has a transient feel, which was proven when we spoke to the owner of a tiny antique shop (which had the most spectacular view out to sea) who told us he rarely spent more than a few months there before taking his wares to Paris or London.
And if like us you're starving by the time you reach Bussana Vecchia, the three or four restaurants at the top have something for every budget. We opted for the 'middling' priced restaurant, which had great views across the coast. A plate of freshly made gnocchi and a glass of local red wine later and we were feeling suitably refreshed to freewheel back down to the beach.
Positioned high in the mountains east of San Remo lies the tiny village of Castellaro. Easily accessed by bus for a few Euro, the village is an opportunity to experience a bit of real Italy. You'll struggle to find anyone who speaks much English, so come armed with your guidebook; but this certainly adds to the charm.
Dinner at the village's only restaurant, run by the very welcoming Gian Marco, is a must, with fresh stone baked pizza's and local fare, including the owner's home-grown olive oil. A word of warning though, this little restaurant is very popular, so for parties over two make sure you book in advance.
Further up the mountain and you will come across the church at Lampedusa, which is beautiful to walk around and situated conveniently next to a cliff-top restaurant/bar with wonderful views down the valley towards the Med.
Further down the mountain towards Arma di Taggia you'll find the Castellaro Golf Resort, and although we didn't have time for a visit, we were told by the locals that the greens are superb with some wonderful panoramic vistas.
With its mild climate, even the city of San Remo itself is a pleasure to walk around. Some of the street stalls are wonderful if you're staying in self-catering accommodation, and watch out for local produce which is in abundance.
The harbour is a good place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the shops, with a large array of maritime vessel on show. Particular hotspots for the culturally conscious are the old town of Pigna and the Russian Orthodox church built in the early 1900's.
In true Italian style, it is the cuisine which is a real draw for tourism, with enough pizzeria's to happily keep you fed on a week-long holiday. Off the beaten track in San Remo, you'll find some beautiful jewellery shops and galleries down wooky looking alleys, and freshly brewed Italian coffee is served in abundance in the city's al fresco cafe's to perk up the weary wanderer.
Less than half an hour from San Remo by train you can be in the playground of the rich and famous in Monaco. Having never visited the area before we were ready to explore, and were surprised to find there was plenty to do without the need for casino tokens.
Walking round the harbour is a real pleasure, and we stood wide-eyed as vast yachts made their way out to sea, complete with butler and on-board sports car!
A real treat was found when you walk to the front of the harbour where it meets the Med; here there is a buoyed off area for swimming, with the water clear enough to have a snorkel. A word of warning though: to get into the water you need to jump off the breakwater into the sea or clamber down a ladder, and the water is deep and sometimes rough; so perhaps not best suited for little ones or weak swimmers.
But back in the main town you can wander the streets made famous by Formula One, stop off for a lunch time baguette and enviously window-shop through some of the most exclusive shop-fronts in the world.
For more information about visiting the San Remo area go to the Italian Tourist Board website.
