► The culinary scene in Liguria is potentially its biggest draw, which one may expect from the birthplace of Pesto Genovese. As a result, many food and wine experiences can be had throughout the area, where one tasting is better than the next. The Royal Hotel Sanremo is known to organize a truly excellent food tour which I was lucky enough to experience for myself, but make sure you start on an empty stomach because this food tour is serious. On this tour, a guide takes you through the charming streets of Sanremo while speaking about the town’s history and stopping in unassuming shops to taste local delicacies. Personally, I most enjoyed the “baci di Sanremo” – or “kisses of Sanremo” – in the form of small but dense cakes, the specialty focaccia – specifically “la sardenaira” and “torta di verdura”, and the hunks of cheese carved from fresh cheese wheels on the spot. Cooking classes, traditional pizza tasting, local pesto, olive oil, wine and cheese tastings, tours of the town’s impressive food market – all of these experiences and more are at your fingertips when staying at the Royal Hotel.
