{"id":53764,"date":"2026-09-30T16:32:08","date_gmt":"2026-09-30T16:32:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/darkseagreen-rook-345411.hostingersite.com\/liguria\/san-lorenzo-al-mare\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T19:59:52","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T19:59:52","slug":"san-lorenzo-al-mare","status":"publish","type":"localita","link":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-ponente\/san-lorenzo-al-mare\/","title":{"rendered":"San Lorenzo al Mare"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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<\/a> to Imperia<\/a>, and the villages of the Valle San Lorenzo in the hills behind.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

What to see in San Lorenzo al Mare<\/h2>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The fishing village<\/h3>\n
\"View<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Chiesa di Santa Maria Maddalena<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Former Oratory of San Lorenzo<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The open-air sculpture museum<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Teatro dell’Albero<\/h3>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Riviera dei Fiori cycle path<\/h3>\n
\"Seaside<\/figure>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Marina di San Lorenzo<\/h3>\n
\"San<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Beaches in San Lorenzo al Mare<\/h2>\n
\"Sandy<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The town beach<\/h3>\n
\"Public<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Baia delle Vele<\/h3>\n
\"Beach<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

U’ Nustromu and Prima Punta<\/h3>\n
\"Clear<\/figure>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The marina beach<\/h3>\n

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<\/a>.<\/p>\n

San Lorenzo al Mare in a day: an itinerary<\/h2>\n