The first Grand Hotel of the twentieth century

The building was built in 1903 to a design by architect Francesco Sappia.

It was born with the name of Hotel Riviera Palace and remained so for many years, and boasts a very unique history.

In 1936, under the administration of the Podestà Guidi, as part of the works for the extension of the Corso Imperatrice, the Hotel, together with other buildings along the course, underwent work on its retreat to a depth of four and a half metres.

The work was carried out in record time but, above all, maintaining a great fidelity to the original 1903 façade, very animated by bow-windows and enriched with precious Art Nouveau decorations.
Those who looked at the photographs before and after the work would have difficulty identifying the differences, symmetry aside.

Hotel with a prestigious international clientele: its restaurant offered French and American style and cuisine.

It is no coincidence that the words "American Restaurant Palace" stood out on its roof.

The Hotel, of which G. Conio was the owner and director, made particular use of the Sanremo winter season, while the Grand Hotel in Ormea, which at the time passed through the "Switzerland of Italy", operated in summer.

The two hotels shared the same property and provided respectable services for the time.

During the second post-war period the structure was transformed into a Residence but in the last years, it became again a hotel with the name of Lolli Garisenda and then Lolli Palace.

Until recently it housed the offices of A.P.T. (Azienda Promozione Turistica), formerly the Autonomous Tourist Board.

(source: "Una stagione lunga cent'anni lunga cent'anni" by Bruno Monticone and others; private archive images)