Palazzo Manara, located near the entrance to the medieval town, is the result of a complex fusion of medieval architectural elements arranged between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. During the 16th century, the palace was considered one of the most elegant and prestigious residences in Sanremo, so much so that Pope Paul III Farnese stayed there in 1538 during a journey to Nice to mediate peace between Charles V and Francis I. The entrance of the palace is adorned with an elegantly carved stone portal, and the spacious atrium reflects the architecture of the sumptuous Genoese residences, with large windows and loggias that highlight the connection with the extraordinary climate of the Riviera.

The La Pigna district represents the historic core of Sanremo, whose origins date back to the year 1000, when the first settlements were built after the expulsion of the Saracens. The name “La Pigna” derives from the distinctive concentric layout of its streets, which resemble the scales of a pine cone. This urban structure, typical of the Middle Ages, was designed for defensive purposes, allowing the inhabitants to better protect themselves from pirate raids and other invasions. The district stands on a promontory, with the main streets following the curves of the hill and the secondary ones branching out from the top. At the center of this layout once stood a castle, which was destroyed in 1753 by the Genoese to make way for a fortress by the sea. The architecture of the neighborhood is characterized by compact tower houses and narrow alleys, forming an evocative labyrinth of covered passages and hidden little squares.