How a Mediterranean resort town shaped the map of the modern Middle East

Wars & Conflicts · Published 15 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Sanremo is famous for flowers, cycling, and its casino, but its most profound legacy lies in a 1920 diplomatic conference. It was here that Allied powers carved up the former Ottoman Empire, establishing the mandates that would define the borders and political landscape of the Middle East for decades.

While Sanremo is primarily known today as a glamorous tourist destination on the Italian Riviera, its history is marked by significant geopolitical shifts. In April 1920, the town hosted the San Remo conference, a pivotal meeting of the Allied Supreme Council following World War I. During these eight days, the victorious powers determined the allocation of Class A mandates for the administration of territories previously under Ottoman rule. This decision-making process was instrumental in the creation of the British Mandate of Palestine, fundamentally altering the trajectory of the region.

The town’s own history reflects a long struggle for autonomy. Originally a Roman settlement known as Matutia, it later sought independence from the Republic of Genoa. This tension culminated in 1753, when the community rose against Genoese hegemony after two decades of conflict. To assert control, Genoa constructed the fortress of Santa Tecla, which served as a prison until 2002. Today, the fortress stands as a museum, a testament to the town's transition from a site of strategic military defense to a hub of cultural and historical preservation.

Beyond its political history, Sanremo became a sanctuary for international figures. Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel purchased a villa in the city in 1891, residing there until his death in 1896. His legacy remains deeply embedded in the town; each year on December 10, the anniversary of his death, Sanremo sends vast quantities of flowers to Stockholm to decorate the Nobel Prize ceremony. The city also served as a final refuge for deposed royalty, including Mohammad Ali Shah Qajar of Persia and Mehmed VI, the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, both of whom died in Sanremo in the 1920s.

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