The villa that hosted Saint Luigi Orione

The history of today's Villa Santa Clotilde, located in Corso Cavallotti, began in 1922, when Don Luigi Orione, thanks to the contribution of a benefactor, bought the so-called "Dame del Sacro Cuore" house.

Don Luigi Orione , founder of the "Piccola Opera della Divina Provvidenza" (Little Office of Divine Providence), died in Sanremo, right in a room of the Villa on 12 March 1940.

In the villa was present for a certain period of time the Pensioned Villa Santa Clotilde or better "Little Work of Divine Providence".

In 1976 the Villa was flanked by the new Rest Home, close to today's cycle path and Porto Sole.


The protected residence "Don Orione" can currently accommodate up to 45 elderly people in single and double rooms.
The building is immersed in the greenery of the park below, rich in exotic plants and just a few metres from the sea.

At Villa santa Clotilde on Corso F. Cavallotti a plaque reminds us that it was there that he passed away and the room where he died is still intact.

He was proclaimed Saint by Pope John Paul II on 16th May 2004.

(source: free elaboration from Andrea Gandolfo's notes; images from Private Archives)