Casinò Municipale di Sanremo
Sanremo Casino, officially named Casinò Municipale di Sanremo is a gambling and entertainment complex located in Sanremo, on the Italian Riviera.
The Casino’s building was designed by French architect Eugène Ferret, opening the 12th of January 1905.
Seven different projects were submitted, resulting in the victory of Ferret, who adhered to the Art Nouveau movement, so much in vogue in France back then. Ferret was also to be the first manager of the proper gaming activities by an agreement signed on the 5th of November 1903.
In 1927, by means of normalizing a situation of tolerance that lasted for years and in order, among other things, to cope with competition from neighbouring Côte d'Azur; the RDL n. 2448 from the 22nd of December, 1927 "Ruling in favour of the City of Sanremo" was converted into Law n. 3125 of December 27, 1928; allowing the City of Sanremo, quite exceptionally, to engage in gambling activities and also allowing an arrangement of the municipal budget so to facilitate the execution of major public works.
The Casino was first born as a Kursaal, and initially its building held theatre programmes, concerts and eateries as well as serving as a meeting place for foreigners. From 1927 to 1934 the Casino was managed by Luigi De Santis who proved to be, among other things, a first-rate gamester for its knowledge of the game and the particularities of the world around it.
In the 1930s, Pietro Mascagni, Luigi Pirandello and Francesco Pastonchi were regular clients of the Casino, along with other prestigious artists like Francesco Cilea, Sem Benelli, Umberto Giordano, Franco Alfano, Francesco Malipiero the town. De Santis invited Marta Abba to Sanremo and offered her the Compagnia Stabile (Theatre Company) of which Pirandello was to be its Artistic Director. It also granted funds to Pastonchi for the organisation and setting up of the Literary Mondays.
The Casinò di Sanremo closed its doors on the 10th of June 1940. Still, undamaged by the war and two German and allied occupations; the Casino resumed its activities seven months after the end of World War Il. The Casinò di Sanremo has been, for many years (since 1976) home of the Festival della canzone italiana.
Coordinates: 43°44′22″N 7°25′44″E / 43.73944°N 7.42889°E
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