{"id":62300,"date":"2026-10-15T18:53:22","date_gmt":"2026-10-15T18:53:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/liguria\/ospedaletti\/"},"modified":"2026-10-15T18:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-10-15T18:56:09","slug":"ospedaletti","status":"publish","type":"localita","link":"https:\/\/italian-riviera.com\/en\/riviera-di-ponente\/ospedaletti\/","title":{"rendered":"Ospedaletti"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ospedaletti is a small town of about 3,200 people on the Riviera dei Fiori, in the province of Imperia, in a sheltered bay between Capo Nero and Capo Sant’Ampelio. It sits between Bordighera<\/a> to the west and Sanremo<\/a> to the east, a few minutes from both. The municipality is tiny, just over 5 km\u00b2, and covers only the town itself: everything is within walking or cycling distance.<\/p>\n

People come for three reasons. The sea is calm and the flat seafront is far less crowded than Sanremo’s. The cycle path starts here: it follows the old railway line towards Sanremo and beyond. And the history is unusual: Italy’s first casino (Villa Sultana), an art collection run by the FAI, and a street circuit that hosted car and motorcycle Grand Prix races from 1947 to 1972.<\/p>\n

One practical point before you go: Ospedaletti no longer has a railway station<\/strong>. It closed on 24 September 2001, when the line moved inland into a tunnel. You arrive at Bordighera or Sanremo and take a bus for the last 10 to 13 minutes (details below).<\/p>\n

What to see in Ospedaletti<\/h2>\n
\"Ospedaletti<\/figure>\n

The town takes two or three hours to see. The sights are few and close together along the sea and the main avenue, plus one FAI house that you must book. For the bike path, see the dedicated page: cycle path from Ospedaletti<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Corso Regina Margherita<\/h3>\n
\"Il<\/figure>\n

This is Ospedaletti’s “boulevard”: a flat, palm-lined avenue built in the late 19th century by a French company, when the town was promoted as a winter health resort. It is the easiest walk if you want no hills. The story goes that in 1860 a doctor, Kerel, called it a place “to banish winter for good”. That is a promotional anecdote, but it explains the town’s early fame.<\/p>\n

Villa Sultana, Italy’s first casino<\/h3>\n

At number 93 on the avenue stands Villa La Sultana, with three domes and a park of about 14,000 m\u00b2. It was built in 1883\u201384 to a design by the Nice architect S\u00e9bastien-Marcel Biasini and housed Italy’s first casino from 1884 to 1905. In 1905 the operating company handed its licence to Sanremo, where the casino is today.<\/p>\n

The villa is private and abandoned, and cannot be visited<\/strong>. You can see it from the street. Ask the town hall or the tourist office about any special openings.<\/p>\n

Casa e Collezione Laura (FAI)<\/h3>\n

Formerly Villa San Luca, at via Cavour 40: an Anglican church damaged in the Second World War and turned into a home in 1953 by the antiques dealer Luigi Anton Laura and his wife Renata. It holds about 6,000 pieces: European, Italian and Chinese furniture, porcelain, sculpture, majolica and silver. It was donated to the FAI in 2001 and has been open to the public since 2021.<\/p>\n

You can only visit on a guided tour<\/strong>, normally Thursday to Sunday at fixed times. A full ticket costs 15 euros (7 euros for FAI members and ages 6\u201318). Booking is advisable; check times and closures on the FAI website<\/a>. Group tours in English and French are available on request. There are stairs on three floors, so it is not suited to limited mobility. Parking is on the public street.<\/p>\n

Church of San Giovanni Battista<\/h3>\n

The Baroque parish church was built between 1817 and 1824 and holds a copy of Raphael’s Madonna of Foligno<\/em> by Tommaso Rossi. The patron saint is John the Baptist, celebrated on 24 June.<\/p>\n

Chapel of Sant’Erasmo<\/h3>\n

The “sailors’ chapel” was the town’s first parish church. According to tradition, a Grand Master of the Knights of St John, saved from a shipwreck in the bay, had it built in the 14th century; the same tradition explains the town’s name, from a hospice for pilgrims. A small museum holds ship models, an anchor and a Roman amphora. Visiting days are not confirmed: ask locally.<\/p>\n

Sanctuary of Madonna delle Porrine<\/h3>\n

The sanctuary dates from the 16th century and was raised to sanctuary status in 1858. Opening times are not confirmed.<\/p>\n

The towers and the Pian d’Asch\u00e8 gardens<\/h3>\n

The town has two coastal towers, a lookout from 1558 and a defence tower finished in 1597. The Pian d’Asch\u00e8 gardens, laid out in 1892 by a hybridiser from Nice for a flower-growing company, housed the first flower market. Ask the tourist office about access and opening times.<\/p>\n

The Ospedaletti circuit<\/h3>\n

From 1947 to 1972 the town’s streets were a circuit for car and motorcycle Grands Prix, nicknamed a “little Tourist Trophy”. Today the memory lives on in a historic reenactment held every two years (the last confirmed edition was in late September 2024); check the organiser’s website before you plan around it.<\/p>\n

The seafront<\/h3>\n
\"Le<\/figure>\n

The promenade is for pedestrians and cyclists, with palms and views over the bay. It is the town section of the cycle path and where most beach clubs are.<\/p>\n

Beaches in Ospedaletti<\/h2>\n
\"La<\/figure>\n

The sea at Ospedaletti, in a sheltered bay, is part of the Pelagos Sanctuary, the protected area for whales and dolphins in the Ligurian Sea. The coast has free beaches and paid beach clubs. Official sources do not give figures, so I will not invent any: ask the tourist office (via XX Settembre 34) which stretches are free.<\/p>\n

Pebbles and shingle<\/h3>\n
\"La<\/figure>\n

The shore is mostly shingle and pebbles, with a few finer stretches: bring water shoes and a thick towel. The promenade lets you walk to whichever beach you prefer.<\/p>\n

Worth knowing: Ospedaletti does not have a Blue Flag in 2026<\/strong>, unlike Bordighera, Sanremo, Arma di Taggia and Riva Ligure. Swimming is fine, but do not look for the flag. Information on dogs, prices and beach club hours is not confirmed: call first.<\/p>\n

Things to do in Ospedaletti<\/h2>\n

Cycling the path<\/h3>\n
\"La<\/figure>\n

Ospedaletti is the starting point<\/strong> of the Riviera dei Fiori cycle path. It does not pass through halfway: it starts here and heads east. The first complete stretch reaches San Lorenzo al Mare<\/a> (about 24 km), and since 20 June 2026, with the opening of the Imperia\u2013Diano Marina link, the route is continuous for about 45\u201348 km to Andora<\/a>. Its official name is “Pista ciclabile del Parco costiero della Riviera dei Fiori”, but it is not a protected park: that is only the path’s name.<\/p>\n

Towards Bordighera there is no path: the last stretch is missing and you must use the busy Aurelia road. Details, the tunnel and returning by bus: cycle path from Ospedaletti<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Capo Nero tunnel<\/h3>\n
\"Ospedaletti<\/figure>\n

On the way out of town towards Sanremo, the path enters the former railway tunnel of Capo Nero, 1,750 metres long. Since 2014 it has been the Milano\u2013Sanremo Gallery, with a panel every 30 metres telling the story of the cycling classic. Entry is free.<\/p>\n

The former station<\/h3>\n
\"L'ex<\/figure>\n

Where the station used to be, closed in 2001, the path now runs; a bike rental is visible in the area (hours and prices to be checked). In 2023 a stretch of about 350 m was reopened, with an outdoor gym planned beside it (work status to be checked). It is the easiest place to start.<\/p>\n

Markets and festivals<\/h3>\n

On the third Saturday of the month there is an antiques market (place and season to be checked). In June the town celebrates Sant’Erasmo and St John, in early August there is the Sagra du Pignurin pan e vin, a fish-and-wine festival, and Halloween follows at the end of October. In mid-October 2026 the town hall’s site listed no events.<\/p>\n

What to eat in Ospedaletti<\/h2>\n

Local specialities are the small fried fish of the Ponente, artichokes and a local white wine. I do not name restaurants: pick places open on the avenue or the seafront and ask for the dish of the day.<\/p>\n

Day trips from Ospedaletti<\/h2>\n