Co-Cathedral of San Siro

Sanremo's oldest church, in Piazza San Siro: history, what to see inside and how to visit.

Co-cathedral of San Siro in Sanremo

Where: Piazza San Siro 51old town of Sanremo
Status: minor basilica and collegiate churchco-cathedral of the Diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo
Style: Romanesque12th century), with 20th-century restoration
Ticket: free entryas it is a parish church
Opening hours: they depend on Mass times and season: check the current ones with the parish or the diocese
Time needed: about 20-30 minutes

The Co-Cathedral of San Siro is the oldest church in Sanremo and the best Romanesque building in the old town. It stands in Piazza San Siro, a few steps from Via Matteotti and the lanes of the Pigna. It is worth a stop for the rebuilt façade, the stone aisles and a black crucifix tied to a local legend. Entry is free.

By Italian Riviera editorial team·Updated on 17 October 2026·3 min read

A short history

Tradition says a church stood here as early as 811, where Saint Siro, bishop of Genoa, is supposed to have celebrated Mass. That is tradition, not a documented fact. The present building went up in the early 12th century, built by the Comacine masters, and the first written records are town council documents from 1143. In 1530 the church received the title of “insigne collegiata”.

It has been damaged and rebuilt many times. In 1544 Barbarossa’s corsairs destroyed the altar, though the treasures had been hidden. From the 1600s it was remodelled in Baroque style. On 30 September 1745 an English fleet’s bombardment brought down part of the roof and the façade. In 1753, after the revolt against the Republic of Genoa, the bell tower was torn down.

Between 1901 and 1948, with a long pause, restorers removed the Baroque additions and brought back a Romanesque look, which is why the façade is partly reconstructed. In 1947 the church became a minor basilica.

What to see

La navata della Concattedrale di San Siro

The exterior

The façade has a splayed portal with a pointed arch, a large rose window and small blind arches. The two side doors, with bas-reliefs, are considered the oldest parts. The bell tower has a medieval base and was rebuilt in Baroque form, then repaired after war damage in 1944.

The interior

Columns and pillars divide the space into three aisles, Romanesque in style with Gothic-flavoured pointed arches. The larch-wood roofing comes from the 20th-century restoration.

The artworks

Black crucifix: by an unknown artist, dated to the 15th century, in the right aisle. It is linked to an episode in 1543, before the battle against the Saracens near Verezzo: the story says Christ smiled at the podestà. It remains a legend.
Anton Maria Maragliano: at the high altar guides point to a crucifix and a statue of Our Lady of the Rosary by the great Genoese sculptor. The national heritage catalogue, however, questions the attribution of the crucifix.

Getting there

The church is in the old town and you reach it on foot. From Via Matteotti it takes a few minutes. If you drive, park outside the centre: the surrounding streets are narrow.

Practical tips

Dress suitably for a place of worship, and visit quietly during Mass.
For Mass and visiting times, ask the parish or the Diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo: they change on feast days and in summer.
Combine the visit with Palazzo Borea d’Olmo, the Civic Museum or a walk through the Pigna. For the rest of the town, read the guide to Sanremo.

Where it is

Co-Cathedral of San Siro is in Sanremo (Riviera di Ponente, Riviera dei Fiori).

Boundaries: ISTAT, Natural Earth · Interactive map →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Do you pay to enter the Co-Cathedral of San Siro?

No. It is a parish church and no entrance ticket is known.

When was it built?

The present building dates from the early 12th century. The 811 you often read is only the traditional date of an earlier church.

What are the opening hours?

We could not confirm an official fixed schedule: it depends on Mass times. Ask the parish or the diocese before you go.

Why is it called a "co-cathedral"?

The Diocese of Ventimiglia-San Remo has two cathedral churches: the one in Ventimiglia and San Siro in Sanremo.

Are the Maragliano works certain?

Guides attribute them to him, but the national catalogue notes that the crucifix is cited as his only in recent sources. It is safer to say “attributed”.

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