The smallest municipality in Liguria: a fishing village, Blue Flag 2026 beaches, a marina and a seafront cycle path between Imperia and Sanremo.
Welcome to San Lorenzo al Mare
San Lorenzo al Mare is a small seaside town on the Riviera dei Fiori, in the province of Imperia, about ten kilometres west of the provincial capital. Covering roughly 1.3 square kilometres, it is the smallest municipality in Liguria: a fishing village, a sandy beach close to the centre, a marina and the cycle path running right along the seafront.
It is a quiet place with just over 1,200 inhabitants, well suited to anyone looking for a seaside holiday without the bustle of the bigger resorts. In 2026 it was awarded the Blue Flag for two beaches and for its marina. It also makes a good base for exploring the coast by bike, from Sanremo to Imperia, and the villages of the Valle San Lorenzo in the hills behind.
The town grew out of two rival settlements on either bank of the San Lorenzo stream: to the west, the village tied to the lords of Lengueglia and to the Benedictine monks; to the east, the one founded by Porto Maurizio in the 13th century. Seen from above, the whole place looks like an anchor. The two villages only came together in the 18th century and became a single municipality in 1797.
San Lorenzo al Mare is in Liguria (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera dei Fiori, province of Imperia).
What to see
You can walk around the town in an hour. There are only a few sights, but they are pleasant ones: the lanes of the old village, two religious buildings, contemporary sculptures dotted around the streets, the marina and the seafront cycle path.
The centre is a web of narrow lanes and small squares where you can still see the old fishermen’s houses stepping down towards the beach. After the floods of 1998 and 2000 the town was redeveloped with a focus on greenery, pedestrian routes and contemporary art. On a stroll you pass from the eastern quarter, around the parish church, to the western quarter on the other side of the stream.
The parish church, in the eastern quarter, has medieval origins and was rebuilt in Baroque style between 1749 and 1766. Inside are frescoes by anonymous artists. A local legend says that Mary Magdalene, fleeing the Holy Land for Marseille, stopped right here.
The Oratory of San Lorenzo, also known as the Misericordia, was the focal point of the western quarter, the rival of Santa Maria Maddalena. The building is the result of work carried out between the 15th and the 19th century and is a good example of the town’s double identity.
Works by contemporary artists are placed along the streets and the seafront, including bronze sculptures by Carin Grudda and pieces by Daniel Spoerri. Together they form a small open-air museum that you discover as you walk, with no ticket and no opening hours.
The Teatro dell’Albero is the town’s venue for performances and cultural events, especially in summer, with book presentations, music and theatre. The programme changes every year: check the dates on the Comune’s website.
The cycle and pedestrian path runs along the old coastal railway line, closed in 2001, and crosses San Lorenzo along the shore. For years the town was the end point of the first continuous section, from Ospedaletti, and in 2015 the first stage of the Giro d’Italia started here, a team time trial to Sanremo. Since June 2026 the route has been continuous for almost 48 kilometres between Ospedaletti and Andora. All the details are in the guide to the cycle path from San Lorenzo al Mare.
East of the town, reached by a walk along the sea, is the marina, with more than 260 berths for boats up to 40 metres long. In 2026 it holds a Blue Flag for marinas. At the marina you can hire bikes for the cycle path, and boat trips leave for the Pelagos Sanctuary, the protected marine area for Mediterranean cetaceans, home to up to eight different species.
Sea
San Lorenzo al Mare has a short but varied coastline, with sandy stretches near the centre, pebble coves and rocks. In 2026 the Comune was awarded the Blue Flag for two beaches, Baia delle Vele and U’ Nustromu/Prima Punta, and for the marina. The award goes back many years: in 2023 it was already the thirteenth time.
In front of the old village is the most convenient beach, a sandy one with both free and serviced stretches. The water is shallow for the first few metres, so it also suits children. It is the best choice if you are staying in the centre and want to mix swimming with a stroll around town.
This is one of the two Blue Flag beaches of 2026: a small sheltered bay, easy to reach on foot or by bike from the seafront promenade.
The stretch of U’ Nustromu and Prima Punta is the other beach awarded the Blue Flag in 2026. It is a good alternative to the town-centre beach and can be reached on foot along the sea.
The Marina di San Lorenzo also has a private serviced beach. For the other beaches in the area you can cycle along the path towards Santo Stefano al Mare, Riva Ligure and Arma di Taggia.
Where to stay
The choice is small: a few hotels, B&Bs and above all apartments and holiday homes, many with sea views. In the centre you are a few steps from the beach and the cycle path; at the Marina di San Lorenzo there is also a hotel overlooking the harbour; in the hills behind the town there are more secluded and quiet houses, practical only if you have a car.
As it is a small town, places fill up quickly in July and August, so book well ahead. If you cannot find anything, Imperia and Arma di Taggia are just a few kilometres away and linked by the cycle path.
Getting there
Take the A10 Genoa–Ventimiglia motorway: the most convenient exit is Imperia Ovest, from where you continue west on the Via Aurelia for a few kilometres. The Aurelia runs through the town and connects it with Imperia and Sanremo.
San Lorenzo al Mare no longer has a station: San Lorenzo-Cipressa station closed in 2001, when the railway was moved inland. The nearest stations are Imperia, opened in 2016, and Taggia-Arma. There are direct trains from Imperia to Genova Piazza Principe taking about one and a half to two hours; from Taggia-Arma to Sanremo it is just a few minutes.
From Imperia and Taggia-Arma stations you can continue on Riviera Trasporti buses, which run along the Aurelia on the coast. Check up-to-date routes and timetables on the company’s website.
The nearest airport is Nice Côte d’Azur, about 80 kilometres away: the drive takes just over an hour. By train you change at Ventimiglia and get off at Imperia or Taggia-Arma.
The town is small and in summer the spaces near the sea fill up early. There are pay car parks along the Aurelia and near the centre, plus a few free areas further from the sea: check rates and times on the signs. If you are staying in town, leave the car and get around on foot or by bike.
By car
A10, Imperia Ovest exit, then the Aurelia west for a few km
By train
No station in town: Imperia or Taggia-Arma, then bus along the Aurelia
By plane
Nice Côte d'Azur (about 80 km); just over 1 hour by car
The guide
With a second day you can walk up to the villages of the Valle San Lorenzo or take a boat trip to spot whales and dolphins.
San Lorenzo al Mare is the gateway to the Valle San Lorenzo, an area of olive-covered hills and small villages. Five waymarked trails start from the town, and they are also suitable for mountain biking:
Lengths and times vary: ask for the map at the Porta di Valle tourist office on Via Aurelia.
The cooking is that of western Liguria, based on fish, vegetables, extra virgin olive oil and local wines.
The 2027 dates have not been announced yet: check the website of the Comune or the Pro Loco.
Weather
June to September for the sea; spring and autumn for cycling and trails
Forecast: MET Norway (Yr), CC BY 4.0 licence. Updated hourly.
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sea | Off season | Off season | Off season | Off season | Possible | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Off season | Off season |
| Sightseeing and hiking | Possible | Possible | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Good | Good | Ideal | Ideal | Good | Possible |
| Crowds | Few people | Few people | Few people | Busy | Busy | Busy | Very busy | Very busy | Busy | Few people | Few people | Few people |
| Don't miss | Valle San Lorenzo Expo | Vini d'amare | ||||||||||
IdealGoodPossibleOff season
Crowds:QuietFew peopleBusyVery busy
Gallery
FAQ
The fishing village with its lanes, the Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena, the former Oratory of San Lorenzo, the contemporary sculptures of the open-air museum, the Marina di San Lorenzo and the seafront cycle path.
The town beach is sandy, with shallow water for the first few metres; other stretches alternate pebbles and rocks. In 2026 Baia delle Vele and U’ Nustromu/Prima Punta hold the Blue Flag.
Yes, in 2026 for the Baia delle Vele and U’ Nustromu/Prima Punta beaches and for the Marina di San Lorenzo.
The town has no station. Get off at Imperia or Taggia-Arma and continue on Riviera Trasporti buses along the Aurelia, or by bike on the cycle path.
The path runs along the town’s seafront. For years San Lorenzo was the end point of the section from Ospedaletti; since June 2026 the route has continued without a break to Andora, for almost 48 kilometres in all.
In the pay car parks along the Aurelia and near the centre, or in the free areas a little further from the sea. In summer it is best to arrive early in the morning.
Because its territory measures just 1.3 square kilometres, squeezed between the sea and the municipalities of Cipressa, Civezza, Costarainera and Imperia.
The best known are Vini d’amare, the tasting of Ligurian wines in the old town in early July, and Valle San Lorenzo Expo, in spring, with walks and events in the eight villages of the valley.
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