Cervara Abbey
The Abbey, built in 1361 and dedicated to Saint Gerolamo, is an ancient monastic complex located along the provincial road that from Santa Margherita Ligure leads to Portofino. The abbey is now characterized by a small church, a 16th century cloister, an ancient tower, where in 1525 King Francis I of France was imprisoned after the defeat in the Battle of Pavia, and a striking Italian style garden. At the end of the 18th century, following Napoleon Bonaparte’s edict to suppress all religious orders, the complex was abandoned and pillaged. In 1912 it was declared an Italian National Monument. Today the Abbey is privately owned and, after a long restoration, has been re-opened to the public.
Cervara Abbey