Situation and importance
The little town of Bordighera lies on the Riviera di Ponente near the French frontier, some 30km/19mi east of Nice and 10km/6mi west of San Remo. The town has long been a popular health resort and has become equally popular as a seaside
resort. Bordighera is famed for the date-palms (Phoenix dactylifera) which grow here because of the mild climate, though the dates seldom ripen sufficiently to be edible. Large quantities of branches are supplied to Roman Catholic churches in spring for Palm Sunday. The Vatican is also supplied with palm leaves from here. Flower-growing is also an important local industry. This part of the Riviera is also called "Riviera dei Fiori" (the Riviera of Flowers).