Less than an hour’s drive from Sanremo and its exclusive shopping mall, Alassio, dubbed the City of Lovers, is the perfect place for a relaxing weekend with the one you love.

The sweetest, most romantic “good morning” comes from the celebrated Baci di Alassio, irresistible little chocolates that are wonderful at breakfast time; find them in the very place where they were first created in 1919: Caffè Pasticceria Balzola, in the small Piazza Matteotti.

From here, our day out in Alassio continues along the delightful Carruggio Budello (aka Via XX Settembre), which runs parallel to the sea, offering breathtaking views of the coast as we stroll among elegant residences side by side with traditional fishermen’s houses.

A little further and we come to the ultimate spot for a souvenir photo: the Muretto, with Eros Pellini’s bronze statue The Lovers and over 1,000 colourful tiles signed by well-known figures including Ernest Hemingway. The American writer was a frequent visitor at the historic Caffè Roma, which remains Alessio’s in-place for aperitifs (with a bit of luck there’ll be soft piano music in the background).

To end the day, surprise your lover by booking dinner for two at the Beauty Spa, with fabulous food from Ristorante La Prua served in the intimate spa of Hotel dei Fiori (also open to non-residents).

On day two, enjoy all the charm of the seaside in winter, thanks to the mild temperatures of the Riviera of Palms, with a walk along the beach as far as the Saracen Tower and lunch at Graf, or, in January and from around 20 March onwards, from the top of the beautiful Villa della Pergola gardens, a spectacular botanical park occupying 22,000 square metres and open for guided tours only (group visits are also available in the closed season).

And now, the unforgettable end to our visit: sunset from the pier or from the romantic Stella Maris Chapel.