The Royal Hotel

When my family and I travel to Sanremo, we always stay at The Royal Hotel. My parents have been traveling to San Remo, before I was born and my Dad was traveling there before my parents were married. We sometimes travel with a close family friend, Jeanie and Meni Rosensaft and their family.

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HISTORY OF THE ROYAL HOTEL

Adapted directly from The Royal Hotel Sanremo Managment

As strange as it may seem, The Royal Hotel in Sanremo has its origins under the feet of Mont Blanc.

In the middle of the 19th Century, when the "pioneers of the mountains" began the conquest of Mont Blanc, an enterprising local inhabitant, having already acquired excellent experience in hotel management in Turin, began the construction of what was to become The Royal Hotel in Courmayeur in the Aosta valley.

The small inn had soon to be enlarged so as to receive The Royal Court that, following Queen Margaret of Italy, used to spend the summer in Courmayeur. It was, in fact, for the Queen that the enterprising valley-dweller, who had in the meanwhile become "Monsù" Lorenzo Bertolini, built the first bathroom in Courmayeur and installed electricity in the rooms.

Lorenzo Bertolini did not stop there. He soon realized that the majority of his well-off clients had chosen a resort on the Ligurian coast for the cold winter months. This spot was becoming more and more famous thanks to its mild and dry climate and to its vicinity to the Côte d'Azur.

It was high time for Mr. Bertolini, a very farsighted man, to move to Sanremo. He bought a number of olive groves overlooking the newly-built seaside promenade where the first palms were being planted, a gift by the Empress of Russia, Maria Alexandrovna, after whom the promenade was named.

In 1871 the first train arrived in Sanremo and the olive groves were in a dominant position, close to the station.

The year 1872 saw the opening of The Royal Hotel in Sanremo which was then to become the favorite haunt of the best-known names of the aristocracy (Elizabeth of Austria) and finance of Europe's "Belle Epoque."

At the end of the 19th Century, The Bertolini Family owned hotels in Milan, Florence, Naples, Aosta and Courmayeur as well as in Sanremo.

After the World War I, The Hotel was completely transformed and renovated, keeping its prime position among the hotels of the Riviera of Flowers.

Many famous persons stayed at The Royal during this post-war period including: Gustavo V. of Sweden; Umberto II of Savoy; The King of Siam; The King of Nepal; Aman Ullah, King of Afghanistan; The Maraja of Jodpur; Beatrix of Bettenberg; Danilo of Montenegro; Thomas of Savoy; The Princesses Mafalda and Jolanda of Savoy.

Diplomats were regular guests at The Royal: Vittorio Emanuele Orlando, Gustavo Stresemann, Raymond Poincaré, Lloyd George and The Duke of Acquarone.

Managers and business men stayed regularly at The Royal Hotel: Falk, the Baron Von Thiessen; Vanderbilt, as well as artists and famous names of the world of culture - Mascagni, Giordano, Ference Molnar, Eleonora Duse, Zacconi, Jan Kiepur and Clark Gable.

On July 1st, 1931, The Rotary Club of Sanremo was founded at the Royal. This was the 26th Club founded in Italy. Among the founder members was Mario Bertolini, Lorenzo's grandson.

During World War II, The Hotel was bombarded and suffered serious damage. By the end of 1946, the restoration and renewal was completed and The Hotel, still among the top ranked hotels, re-opened for Christmas that year and the name Hotel Royal was changed to The Royal Hotel.

In February 1947, the splendid new "Veranda Restaurant" was inaugurated and in June 1948, the large and enchanting sea-water swimming pool was opened. It was one of the first swimming pools among European hotels. The pool was designed by Giò Ponti, and is famous for its wonderful setting, like a jewel among flowers, palms and sub-tropical plants.

During the 20th Century many famous guests have stayed at The Royal including: King Farouk; Grace and Ranieri of Monaco; Hassan II of Morocco; Nantaire V. of Burundi; Prince Bernardo of Holland; Princess Cristina and Prince Bernardo of Sweden; Bertil and Lilian of Sweden, members of the Savoy family and of the Italian Government; The Baron of Rotschild, King Carl XVI; Gustav of Sweden.

Also, 35 Nobel Prize Winners have stayed at The Royal during the 20th Century including: Eugenio Montale, Renato Dulbecco, Rita Levi Montalcini, Carlo Rubbia, Franco Modigliani, Bruno Pontecorvo, Lawrence Robert Kline, Albert Bruce Sabin, Pininfarina, Francesco Messina, Salvatore Fiume.

Among World Wide artists, ones who have stayed at The Royal included: Mario del Monaco, Maria Callas, Giulietta Simionato, Katia Ricciarelli, José Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Ella Fitzgerald, Charles Aznavour, Barry White, Julio Iglesias, Demi Roussos, Johnny Holiday, Duran Duran of the Queen, Guns and Roses, Rod Steward, Boy George, Paul Mc Cartney, Ray Charles, Diana Ross, Tina Turner, Whitney Huston, Elton John, Sting, Miles Davis, Phil Collins, Angie Dickinson, Rudolf Nurejev, Sofia Loren, Gina Lollobrigida, Nino Manfredi, Alberto Sordi, Ugo Tognazzi and other World Wide famous singers, journalists and writers.

Today, more than 120 years from its foundation, The Royal Hotel belongs to the great-grandchildren of Lorenzo Bertolini who continue to transform and renew The Hotel by maintaining its original high standard and refinement of a 5-star luxury hotel.

The Bertolini family has always dedicated the maximum attention to the quality and service of the restaurant and it is for this reason that The Royal Hotel has always been well-known for its refined cuisine and for its accurate and discreet service.

The Royal Hotel is situated in the centre of Sanremo, close to the Municipal Casino and Theatre and surrounded by a 16,000 sq. meter park with sub-tropical vegetation, where flowers of every species bloom year-round. The wonderful sea-water swimming pool is situated in the park with a wide terrace directly overlooking the sea, while the Swimming Pool Bar and Restaurant. In summer, guests may taste refined culinary specialities at the informal outside restaurant under the palms.

The Royal Hotel in Sanremo, the only luxury hotel in Liguria is located 26 miles from Montecarlo, Monaco and 45 miles from Nice, France. There is a map on the Home Page of the town of Sanremo and of the surrounding area and on the Map page.

There are 133 rooms total and all rooms differ from one another and are individually furnished.

- There are 88 Standart rooms at the hotel. Two-thirds are sea-view and one-third with a hill view.

- There are 18 junior suites at the hotel and half of them are with a sea-view.

All junior suites include: Same ammenities of standard rooms | Some junior suites have two bathrooms

- There are 14 deluxe-junior suites at the hotel. All of them are on the fifth floor, the club level and are with a sea-view.

All Deluxe-junior suites include: Same ammenities of standard rooms | Larger rooms and a sitting area room

- There are 16 suites at the hotel. The difference between suites and deluxe-junior suites are that some do not have a sea view and they are not on the club level.

Link to a schedule of Festivals, Shows, Exhibitions and Cultural Events
In Sanremo and nearby towns

* Please note: Some of the informaton provided in the link to the schedule is in Italian.