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Camogli
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San Fruttuoso Abbey - FAI |
 San Fruttuoso is a tiny fishing hamlet located in a lovely bay at the foot of mount Portofino. The only way to visit this extraordinary place and its splendid Abbey of San Fruttuoso of Capodimonte is by sea or on foot, following the trails of Portofino Park.
This beautiful historic monument which is now protected by the FAI (the National Trust for Italy), dates back to the 8th century when the ashes of San Fruttuoso, a bishop martyred in the 3rd century, where transferred there by Bishop Prospero of Tarragon.
The church attached to the monastery was damaged by the Saracens and rebuilt by Benedictine monks in the 10th century. It became one of the most powerful in the area and in the 13th century it fell under the patronage of the Doria family, who built the structure standing there today.
In 1983 the FAI restored the Abbey to its original splendour, making it available for visitors and for extraordinary gala events.
Beneath the waters of the bay stands a statue of Christ of the Depths, protector of divers.
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Dragonara Castle |
IlThe Castle of Camogli, traditionally known as the “Dragonara Castle” stands over the old seaside village of Camogli. It is a four-sided fortified structure with a wall and three guardhouses.
The fort dates back to the year 1130 and was rebuilt in 1428, later falling into disuse various times until 1560 when it no longer served a military function.
The Castle appears to have maintained its original form throughout the centuries and recalls the period of the Saracen invasions.
An interesting permanent multimedial display called “Un portale sul mare” (“A doorway on the sea”) is hosted inside the Castle. This display takes visitors on a trip through the history and traditions of Camogli and its socio-economic connections with the sea.
www.unportalesulmare.it
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Maritime Museum |
The Maritime Museum of Camogli safeguards three hundred years of history of the Camogli Sailing Fleet and its most important protagonists: the shipowners, captains and sailors.
Named after its founder, the scholar Gio Bono Ferrari, it was donated to the Town of Camogli in 1938.
The collection of paintings, models and documents donated by the citizens of Camogli tell the story of over 2900 sailing vessels that were acquired and riggged in this city.
It is a place brimming with emotions and memories dedicated to real people.
www.museomarinaro.it
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| S. Maria Assunta Church |
 Built in the 12th century, the church has undergone numerous renovations and additions. The neoclassical façade overlooks a 17th century churchyard.
The inside is decorated with ornate works in marble and gilt stucco.
The church features frescoes by Nicolò Barabino, Bernardo Castello, Carlo Baratta and, in its sacristy, a Deposition by Luca Cambiaso, statues by Francesco Schiaffino and a silver-plated urn containing the remains of St. Fortunato.
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Santa Margherita Ligure
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| Villa Durazzo Centurione |
 Villa Durazzo Centurione, located above the park by the same name, dates back to 1560.
The impressive square-shaped structure is surrounded by a terrace decorated with allegoric statues from the 17th-18th centuries.
Visitors can admire the “Prince’s Apartments” with its original furnishings, frescoes and 17th century Genoese paintings as well as the “V.G. Rossi” Museum, a reconstruction of the studio of this important writer from Santa Margherita.
From the outside, the villa offers beautiful views of the city, the harbour and the entire Tigullio Gulf.
Located near the Villa are the “Nido” and “San Giacomo” villas, which are also town property.
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| St. James of the Court Church |
 Just outside the Villa Durazzo Park, the Church of Saint James of the Court features a splendid baroque façade and interiors decorated with frescoes by Nicolò Barabino.
From the church, stairs lead up to the Shrine of St. Erasmo, where there is a collection of votive medals from sailors.
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Castle |
 The Castle of Santa Margherita is located on an outcropping overlooking Villa Durazzo Centurione, to which it is adjoined.
The Castle, originally part of a complex of fortresses, was built after 1550 at the request of the inhabitants in order to protect the town and its villas.
It has since been modified and restored.
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| Madonna of Nozarego Shrine |
At the top of the panoramic road which climbs up the hill stands the Shrine to the Madonna of Nozarego (151 m.), dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
Built between 1725 and 1731, it features a beautiful Baroque facade and ornate interiors with polychrome marble altars.
There is also a valuable organ by Tommaso Roccatagliata (1778), a “Coena Domini” attibuted to the school of Andrea del Sarto and a “Deposition of Christ” by Luca Cambiaso in the sacristy.
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Cervara Abbey |
The Cervara Abbey, or the Abbey of San Gerolamo, is an ancient monastic complex located along the provincial road which connects Santa Margherita and Portofino.
Built in1361, the Abbey was based on an idea of Ottone Lanfranco, a Genoese chaplain of the Church of St. Stefano in Genoa, in honour of Saint Girolamo.
The Benedictines acquired the building in 1420, making it the seat of an autonomous congregation of the Cassinese Order, which also encompassed the nearby Abbey of San Fruttuoso of Capodimonte.
The monastery symbolized of the spread of Flemish culture in Liguria.
In 1546 it was elevated to the status of Abbey and fortified against Saracen pirate invasions.
At the end of the 18th century, following Napoleon Bonaparte’s edict to suppress all religious orders, the complex was abandoned and pillaged. It was then converted for residential use and in the mid-19th century was sold to the Diocese of Chiavari. In 1912 it was declared an Italian national monument.
Today the Abbey is privately owned. Following eight years of long and painstaking restorations under the supervision of the Environmental and Architectural Heritage Supervisory Board of Liguria, the Abbey has been re-opened to the public.
On request, small groups visits and special events may be arranged.
The area once occupied by the monks’ vegetable garden in the 14th century has been turned into a splendid Renaissance-style Italianate garden.
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Chiavari
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Hall of Justice |
 The building which is currently the seat of the Chiavari courthouse is located in piazza Giuseppe Mazzini, in the middle of Chiavari’s historic centre.
Designed by Giuseppe Partini and built in 1886, the medieval style building contains elements inspired by Tuscan Gothic style.
In this spot once stood the old 15th century Citadel built by the Republic of Genoa at the time its civilian and military power was concentrated there.
Today the battlemented tower dating back to 1537 still stands.
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Shrine to our Lady of the Garden (Cathedral) |
This impressive cathedral was built between 1613 and 1633 on the place where, according to popular tradition, the Virgin Mary once appeared.
It was changed in the 19th century with the addition of the Neoclassical pronaos with eight tall Corinthian order columns and decorated pilasters.
The cathedral houses important works in wood by Maraliano and frescoes by Benedetto Borzone, Camillo Pucci, Francesco Galdolfi and others.
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| Palazzo Rocca |
Designed by the architect Bartolomeo Bianco, the palazzo was commissioned by the Marquis Costaguta in 1629.
It was later expanded during the 18th century when it was owned by the Grimaldi family who also redesigned the magnificent park behind the building which is now open to the public.
The old stables house an ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM where the exhibit features artefacts found in Chiavari in 1959 during the excavation of a pre-Roman necropolis (between 8th and 7th century BC).
On the noble floor paintings of the Quadreria Pietro Torriglia can be viewed, while on the upper floor the Rocca family collection features paintings from the Genoese and Flemish schools.
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San Salvatore di Cogorno
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| Basilica dei Fieschi |
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A few kilometers from the centre of Lavagna a side road leads to the hamlet of San Salvatore dei Fieschi.
The irregular shaped square is one of the most harmonious in all Liguria. It is based on a medieval model and contains authentic monuments surrounded by olive trees, vegetable gardens and little houses hidden among the trees. The cobblestone paving, still miraculously intact, was made with river stones set in a mosaic and is in its own right a noteworthy example of well-calibrated spontaneous art.
On one side of the square stands the Gothic-Romanesque Church of San Salvatore. The massive church features three naves, with the tower set right on the transept, giving it the severe and functional aspect typical of Ligurian Gothic-Romanesque style.
The basilica was built in 1244 by the order of Pope Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo Fieschi, a descendent of the noble branch of the Fieschi family who at that time ruled over the entire valley area of the Val Fontanabuona and part of the Val d’Aveto.
The importance and beauty of the basilica, together with the adjacent hamlet, led to its classification as an historic monument in 1860.
Today it is still considered one of the most precious and best-preserved Romanesque houses of worship in Liguria.
During the summer, the churchyard stages the celebration of the Addio do fantin (Farewell to bachelorhood), a traditional feast in a medieval setting.
Almost directly in front of the church, on a raised foundation with a few steps, stands another little tall and slender church, or oratory, clearly dating back to the 1700s.
The estate of the Fieschi family can be seen on the side: the villa where two large arches and cusps support the upper floor which features large marble quadruple lancet windows.
The same black and white stripes seen on the church define the “tone” of the patrician family, recalling its close ties to clerical power.
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Borzonasca
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| Borzone Abbey |
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The Abbey of Borzone is found in a solitary location, about one kilometre from the town of Borzonasca, in the hinterland behind Chiavari.
The exact date of construction is uncertain but it appears to have been built sometime between 712 and 714.
During the Longobard period, around the year 972, it was entrusted to the Benedictines who were administrators of the Sturla Valley until the year 1000. It was subsequently elevated to the status of abbey and later to parish church by the Fieschi family.
The entire structure is complete: in addition to the church and tower, there is a canonical house, a farmhouse, a sacristy and cloister.
It was declared a national monument in 1910.
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Moneglia
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| Saint George Church |
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This church was built around the year 1396 by the Benedictine monks, who were subsequently replaced by the Franciscan brothers.
The various pieces of art include a work in wood depicting Saint George and the Dragon, from the school of the sculptor Anton Maria Maragliano; a painting of Saint George slaying the Dragon attributed to Pieter Paul Rubes, and an Adoration of the Magi by Luca Cambiaso.
The adjacent cloister was built by the Franciscan brothers in 1484.
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Villafranca Castle |
The tower stands at the eastern edge of Moneglia’s town centre.
The fortress was built by the Republic of Genoa around 1130 and it underwent various changes during the course of the 14th and 15th centuries due to sharp contrasts between the Genoese Republic and the Malaspina family.
Further damage was caused during WWII but thanks to recent restoration work on the building, the adjacent park has been opened to the public.
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Portofino
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| Parish Church of St. Martin |
Located in the oldest part of the town, the Parish Church of Saint Martin was built in 12th century Lombard-Romanesque style.
The present building was modified in the 19th century.
It houses important works including an organ from the 1800s with a case byTommaso I Roccatagliata Case (1679) and a work in wood by Maragliano.
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| Church of St. George |
Destroyed by bombings during WWII, the church was rebuilt in 1950 in the same spot as the original primitive 12th century building.
The relics of the saint are preserved there.
A splendid view of Portofino can be seen from the square in front of the church. It also has an interesting cemetery.
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| Castle of St. George (Castello Brown) |
 The picturesque fortress of Saint George stands on Roman foundations. Surrounded by walls, it features a turret and central tower. It later became known as Castle Brown, named after its owner Montague Yeats Brown, British Counsel in Genoa, its owner from 1867 to 1949.
Around the year 1000 the Castle was donated to the Benedictine monks of San Fruttuoso, and was subsequently handed over to the Consuls of Rapallo and in the 15th century to the Genoese.
In 1867 the Castle was converted from a fortress to a private residence and in 1961 its ownership passed to the town of Portofino.
Thanks to renovations made for its preservation, the castle’s natural architectural beauty, enhanced by its magnificent position overlooking the town of Portofino, has been discovered.
The storybook gardens and dreamy terraces surrounding the Castle offer an extraordinary panorama of Portofino.
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| The Park Museum |
 The Park Museum - International Sculpture Centre is located just below the church of Saint George in the green area sloping down toward the wharf.
Sculptures by Pomodoro, Messina, Marrai, Costa and other contermporary artists are displayed among plants, trees and beautiful views of Portofino.
www.museodiportofino.it
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Rapallo
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| Castle |
The Castle of Rapallo was built directly on its rocky seashore in 1546 to defend the city after it suffered a horrible pirate invasion by the Turk Dragut.
It features a bastion with tower and sentry box.
In the 16th century it was turned into a prison and in 1866 it was used as a judicial jail.
Following the last major restorations completed in 1999, beauty has been restored to both the exterior and interiors of the Castle.
The Castle is the symbol of the city of Rapallo and has been declared a national monument by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage.
It is currently used to host important art exhibits.
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| Montallegro Shrine |
The Shrine to the Madonna of Montallegro is one of the major Shrines to Our Lady in the Province of Genoa.
It is located in a spectacular panoramic position on a hill 612 mt. above Rapallo overlooking the entire Tigullio Gulf.
It can also be reached by a breathtaking funicular ride departing from Rapallo.
The building was constructed around 1557, together with the adjoining pilgrims’ accommodations, with funds donated by the inhabitants.
It features a neo-Gothic marble façade designed by the architect Luigi Rovelli and bronze portals which were added on later.
The 18th century interiors house a large collection of sailors’ votive offerings as well as works by G.B. Carlone, Francesco Schiaffino and Nicolò Barabino.
The Madonna of Montallegro has been the Parton of the City of Rapallo since 1739.
This can be seen on the town coat of arms which bears the letter “M” in the middle of the two griffons which hold up the royal crown.
www.santuariomontallegro.com
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| Monastery of Valle Christi |
Located along the road leading from Rapallo to San Massimo, the Monastery of Valle Christi was built in the 13th century in French Gothic style.
It belonged to the Cistercense and Clarisse Orders until it was surpressed in1569 when the Trent Council prohibited the presence of monasteries located outside of inhabited areas.
Some splendid remains are left standing, such as the apse, the transept and cupsidate steeple, which is the most impressive element.
Today this complex is considered an Italian national monument.
It has undergone some restorations for its preservation and provides a suggestive setting for cultural events.
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| Gaffoglio Museum |
The Municipal Museum of Attilio and Cleofe Gaffoglio houses precious collections of works in gold, ivory, porcelain, sculptures and paintings dating back from the 13th century to the 20th century, which Attilio Gaffoglio collected in his home over the last forty years.
At the beginning of the year 2000 he donated 303 articles and pieces of antique art to the Town of Rapallo including 119 porcelain and majolica pieces, 65 silver pieces, 48 ivory pieces, 18 icons, a small group of paintings and sculptures and other items in various materials.
On 17th July 2000 Attilio Gaffoglio died suddenly, bequeathing to the Town of Rapallo the remainder of his collection including over 400 pieces in porcelain, ivory, enamel and paintings
The numerous paintings inherited by the Town of Rapallo are nearly all landscapes by artists from the early 1900s such as Fragiacomo, Follini, Bergamini and Alberto Rossi.
The visit of the Museum begins on the upper floor where the objects in silver, ivory and wood are displayed and continues to the ground floor where the porcelain, paintings and sculptures can be viewed.
The art objects and paintings are displayed according to the type of material and technique used to create them, and according to the artistic groups and areas they pertain to.
Museo Attilio e Cleofe Gaffoglio
Ex Convento delle Clarisse, Piazzale Libia
16035 RAPALLO (GE) - Tel. 0185.234497.
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| Parish Church of San Michele di Pagana |
The Parish Church of San Michele di Pagana, in the section of Rapallo along the coastal road leading to Santa Margherita Ligure-Portofino houses some important pieces of artwork including the Crucifix with Saints Frances and Bernard and donor, by Antoine Van Dyck, commissioned by Francesco Orero around the year 1620. There are also other works from the Flemish and Genoese schools.
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| Tower Punta Pagana |
On the promontory covered by maritime pine trees between San Michele di Pagana and the little beach of Prelo, there is one of the few examples of “saracen towers” not encompassed in a residence or spoiled by other uses.
The Tower of Punta Pagana is a standing example of the period between the 16th and 17th centuries when the Ligurian coasts were under the threat of corsair invasions.
The FAI has recovered the tower and supervises the species of trees that surround it.
The “bombard chamber”, the orginal brick floor and the 17th century exteriors have all been restored.
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Lavagna
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| Church of St. Stefano |
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This parish church dating back to the 10th century was rebuilt in 1653, creating a spectacular effect between the Baroque stairs and the façade with the two symmetrical bell towers overlooking the cobblestone churchyard.
One side of the square in front of the Church is completely closed off by the beautiful Loggia del Brignardello (1897).
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| Casa Carbone |
This coherent example of a fin de siècle residence has recently become part of the FAI (National Trust of Italy).
The architectural style and interiors are typically Ligurian.
The art objects, floors, ceramics and furnishings create a warm, homey atmosphere where it is also possible to admire an important group of paintings of the 17th century Ligurian school.
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Sestri Levante
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| Church of St. Nicolò |
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Built in 1151, this Romanesque building was a parish church from the 12th to the 17th centuries.
It was partly converted in the 15th century and modified in the Baroque period.
The original structure has resurfaced thanks to recent restoration work.
The 15th century façade has a pseudo-protiro portal, surmounted by a triple lancet window.
Medieval epigraphs and tablets are walled on the sides; on the small portal on the left side, a fragment of the presbytery wall from the 8th century can be seen.
The steeple has a pyramidal cusp, and a double lancet in the bell tower. Inside, the three naves of the church are separated by columns with cubic capitals.
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| Rizzi Gallery |
The Rizzi Gallery was born following the death in 1960 of Marcello Rizzi, a lawyer from Sestri Levante who willed that his entire collection of paintings and art objects be displayed to the public in his villa in Via Cappuccini, which was built under the direction of his family in 1926.
To carry out his wishes, the lawyer wanted a foundation to be established and supervised by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, for the creation and management of the gallery.
The collection became accessible to the public in 1967 and is displayed on the three floors of the building, in a splendid position by the sandy shores of the eastern gulf.
In the current layout, created between 1990 and 1996, the rooms on the first floor are re-enactments of a bourgeois residence during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
The second and third floors feature the most important paintings and works, displayed in precise chronological order and grouped according to the various schools (Genoese, Lombard, Emilian, Venetian, Tuscan).
The rooms on the second floor house paintings and sculptures which date from the early 1400s through the first half of the 1600s, spanning a period of1500 years.
The rooms on the third floor house works from the second half of the 1600s and the 1700s. On the third floor a smaller room is used for temporary rotating exhibits of the numerous drawings and incisions owned by the gallery.
The Rizzi Gallery is the most important collection of paintings and works of art between Genoa and La Spezia.
GALLERIA RIZZI: Via Cappuccini, 8 (Bay of Silence)
Tel. 0185.41300
Visiting hours:
Sunday 10 am-1 pm from 25th April to October
Wednesday 4 pm-7 pm from 19th May to 12th September
Friday and Saturday 9 pm-11 pm from 19th June to 12th September
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| Historic Villas |
The Patrician families of Genoa frequently chose to build their summer homes in Sestri Levante and, as a result, this is where the largest number of aristocratic villas can be found after Genoa itself.
The architectural characteristics of the villas and the aspects tied to their agricultural function, can be traced mainly to the late 19th century and beginning of the 20th century.
Among them are:
Villa Cattaneo
Villa Balbi già Brignole
Villa Fieschi
Villa Sertorio
Villa Gualino
Villa Pallavicini
Villa Durazzo
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