Sanremo is famous too, apart from being home the Italian Song Festival , for the Automotive Rally, which was first called "Sanremo International Rally" . The first edition of the event took place in 1928 and a Fiat was the winner. From 1961 onwards the sporting event was changed being first called "Rally of the Flowers" and then "Sanremo Rally". The event has reached its 63rd edition , and was won in 2016 by the Italian Paolo Andreucci.
The historic Rally initially occupied a different area of the city of Sanremo, with the arrivals and departures in piazza Colombo, for several years now these have been along the Lungomare Italo Calvino. The Sanremo Rally is part of the Italian Rally Championship and until 2004 held the title of Rally of Italy, now given to the Rally of Sardinia.