The presence of man in the Sanremese territory dates back to very ancient periods: findings of the Paleolithic period and of the Iron Age found in the town and in its surroundings are an evidence of this fact. Archaeological findings, furthermore, have revealed the existence of a Roman settlement (Villa Matuciana) in the area of the present cathedral. Remains of two villas can be found also along the coast in the locality Foce and at Bussana.

In the Early Middle Ages the population moved to the high grounds and built a walled village protected by a fortified castle to contrast the continuous Saracen raids. At first subjected to the countship of Ventimiglia, it passed later under the dominion of the Genoese bishops, who in 1297 sold it to the Doria and De Mari families. It became a free town in the second half of the 15th century and spread on the Pigna hill and at San Siro, near the Cathedral. We have still many evidences of that time in the old village, the so called Pigna, situated on the hillock and crossed from tortous alleys with slopes and flights and delimited by ancient buildings.

Sanremo was independent from Genoa for a long time, but in 1753, after twenty years of strong contrasts, it rose against the hegemonical attempts of the chief town. The Genoese built against the town the fortress of Santa Tecla, today a prison, situated on the beach near the historical port.

During the French domination, it became chief town of the Palms' Jurisdiction, and after the Savoy restoration (1814), it was annexed to the Sardinian reign. The town increased beginnig from the middle of the 18th century with the development of tourism: the first Grand Hotels were built and the town extended along the coast. In that period famous personages sojourned in Sanremo, such as the Empress Maria Alexandrovna, whose reminder is still in the homonymous promenade on the sea and in the suggestive Orthodox church of San Basilio, erected in 1912 on the will of the Russian Community present in the town.

From then on Sanremo has progressively increased the touristic activity, first with the building of the Municipal Casino (1904-1906) and in the last decades, with the new harbour Portosole, one of the most efficient in the Ligurian Riviera, provided with modern sports equipments (golf field, horse field, etc.).