Pretty Ceriana, Village Inland of Sanremo Liguria Italy

Ceriana rises up from the valley below San Remo, tucked at the foot of the Bignone and Apicella mountains in the Liguria region of Italy. It’s a quieter, older counterpart to the more modern coastal towns nearby.

Two historic churches anchor the village’s skyline, surrounded by olive groves and fruit orchards that give the area its distinctly rural character, even though San Remo itself is only a short drive away.

Ceriana has a lively little center with enough shops and services for day-to-day life, while still holding onto an old-world feel that’s increasingly hard to find along this stretch of the Italian coast. With around 1,500 permanent residents, it’s the kind of place where property doesn’t come up for sale often — and when it does, it tends to be something genuinely distinctive rather than a standard build.

For anyone drawn to Liguria’s coastline but looking for something quieter than the resort towns, Ceriana is worth a visit, even just to see the architecture that gives the village its character.