All Churches in Liguria

The Church of San Martino (Chiesa del Divo Martino) is a church in Romanesque style, dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours, in Portofino.   SHORT HISTORY The church was probably built during the 12th century, around the same time the Church of San Giorgio was erected. The structure is mentioned in a document of 1130, with the decision of Pope Innocent II to cede the property to the monks of the nearby Abbey of San Fruttuoso, and again in 1164, where the same privileges were confirmed by Pope Alexander III. The consecration of the church took place on June 10, 1548, and on March 8, 1550, the ownership of the religious building passed to the Prince Andrea Doria and his heirs, through a papal bull of Pope Julius III. During the 19th century, the Church of San Martino was renovated and expanded, and took its current shape.   ART Inside, there are several pictorial and sculptural works, such as the wooden group depicting the Deposition of Christ by the Genoese sculptor Anton Maria Maragliano, the canvas of the Madonna del Rosario by an unknown painter, an Annunciation of the 18th century, and a painting depicting the Saints Rocco, Sebastiano and Read more [...]

The Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta is a Catholic place of worship in Riomaggiore, located in Via Santuario.   SHORT HISTORY The oratory, the seat of the Confraternity of the Disciplinanti dell’Assunta, was built during the 16th century.   ART The oratory preserves a wooden statue of the Madonna delle Catene (Madonna of the Chains), in memory of the inhabitants who, over the centuries, suffered raids and kidnappings in the Saracen raids, and a tempera triptych depicting the Madonna with Child and Saints John the Baptist and Dominic.   HOW TO GET THERE The Oratory of Santa Maria Assunta is located about 800 meters away from the Riomaggiore railway station. The closest bus stop is Riomaggiore Park, located about 70 meters away, on the local bus line.

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is a beautiful church in Genoa, located in the small square with the same name. The cathedral is dedicated to San Lawrence, one of the patron saints of Genoa, together with Saint George, Saint John the Baptist and Saint Sebastian.   SHORT HISTORY A first church was built on this place around the 5th or 6th century AD, and dedicated to the bishop of Genoa, San Siro (Saint Sirus). The first documents that attest the existence of a church dedicated to San Lorenzo date back to 878. In 1007, the ancient church of San Siro was given to the Benedictine monks and the episcopal seat was transferred to the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Starting with 1098, the reconstruction of the church began and the project was entrusted to the Magistri Antelami, master architects, sculptors and carpenters of Romanesque tradition. The building was consecrated in 1118 by Pope Gelasio II. In the 13th century, the church was renovated in Gothic style. The first order of the facade, with its three Gothic portals, dates back to that period. After the fire of 1296, the building, very damaged, was rebuilt again. Between 1307 and 1312, the facade was Read more [...]

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is a beautiful church in Genoa, located in Piazza della Nunziata, in the Prè district. The building is one of the most representative churches of the Genoese art of the late Mannerism and early Baroque of the 17th century.   SHORT HISTORY In 1228, a community of Humiliati friars from Lombardy built on this place a convent and a small church dedicated to Santa Maria del Prato. In 1508, the convent and the church were assigned to the Conventual Franciscan friars from the Convent of San Francesco di Castelletto. The Franciscans started a new construction, better suited for their liturgical needs. Work began on July 20, 1520, when the first stone was laid. The church was built in late Gothic style to respect the artistic style of the mother church of the Franciscan Order, the Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi. In 1537, the Conventuals left the church to return to the Convent of San Francesco di Castelletto, and the church passed to the Observant Franciscan friars, forced to leave the Convent of the Santissima Annunziata di Portoria. Following the dictates of the Council of Trent, the basilica was radically transformed beginning with 1591. The Read more [...]

The Church of Jesus and the Saints Ambrogio and Andrea is a Baroque church in Genoa, located in Piazza Matteotti, near the Palazzo Ducale and the Piazza De Ferrari. The church, belonging to the Jesuits from the 16th century, hosts works by the Flemish painter Peter Paul Rubens, the Italian artist Guido Reni and by the greatest authors of the Genoese Baroque.   SHORT HISTORY The primitive church of Sant’Ambrogio dates back to the 6th century, when the Milanese clergy fled to Genoa, following the Lombard persecutions. The Genoese captivity of the Milanese bishops lasted until the middle of the 7th century, when the bishop Giovanni Bono (John the Good) returned to Milan. Around 1522, the old church passed into the hands of the Jesuits. In 1589, the Jesuits rebuilt the church to its current form, on a project by the architect Giuseppe Valeriano. The facade of the church was completely rebuilt in the second half of the 19th century. Completed in 1894, the facade included two statues of Sant’Ambrogio and Sant’Andrea, by Michele Ramognino.   ART In the central nave and in the dome, we can find frescoes by the painter Giovanni Carlone and by his younger brother, Giovanni Read more [...]

The Church of Santa Chiara (Chiesa di Santa Chiara) is an important religious and historical building located in Via Giuseppe Mazzini in Bogliasco. Dedicated to Saint Clare of Assisi, the church represents a centuries-old center of devotion closely connected to Franciscan spirituality and to the confraternal traditions that have shaped religious life in Bogliasco since the late Middle Ages. Although modest in size, the Church of Santa Chiara preserves a remarkable artistic and spiritual heritage. Its history is deeply intertwined with that of the local confraternity dedicated to Saint Clare, whose activities are documented over several centuries. The church also houses significant artworks, including sculptures, paintings, and liturgical furnishings dating from the 17th and 18th centuries, making it a valuable testimony to the religious art of Liguria. Saint Clare of Assisi was one of the earliest and most devoted followers of Saint Francis of Assisi. Inspired by Francis’s ideals of poverty, humility, and devotion, she founded the Order of Poor Clares, originally known as the Order of Poor Ladies. This religious order, rooted in the Franciscan tradition, was dedicated to a life of strict poverty, prayer, and contemplation. The dedication of the Bogliasco church to Saint Clare reflects the diffusion Read more [...]

The Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Italian: Chiesa della Natività di Maria Santissima) is one of the most significant religious and historical landmarks in Bogliasco, a seaside town located along the eastern Riviera of Liguria, not far from Genoa. The church stands in Via Ammiraglio Giovanni Bettolo, in the lower part of the town (Bogliasco Basso), and represents the spiritual, artistic, and architectural heart of the local community. Dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the church reflects centuries of devotion, transformation, and artistic enrichment. Its current Baroque structure is the result of a long historical process that began in the Middle Ages and culminated in the monumental church visible today. Through documented restorations, commissions by renowned artists, and liturgical updates, the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary has remained a living testimony to the religious and cultural history of Bogliasco.   Short History of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary The origins of the Church of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary date back to the 12th century, when a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary already existed in the upper part of the town, Read more [...]

The Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie (Santuario di Nostra Signora delle Grazie) is a small yet deeply significant Marian place of worship located in Via Giuseppe Mazzini in Bogliasco. Dedicated to Our Lady of Grace, the sanctuary represents an enduring expression of popular devotion, gratitude, and faith rooted in the historical experiences of the local community. Although modest in architectural scale, the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie holds substantial historical, religious, and cultural value. Its origins are closely linked to one of the most traumatic events in Ligurian history – the devastating plague of the 17th century – and its subsequent transformations reflect both changes in urban development and the persistent Marian devotion of the faithful. The sanctuary also preserves a noteworthy collection of votive offerings, making it an important testimony to centuries of lived religious experience in Bogliasco.   Powered by GetYourGuide   Short History of the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie The origins of the Sanctuary of Nostra Signora delle Grazie are traditionally associated with the aftermath of the plague of 1657, one of the most catastrophic epidemics to strike the region of Liguria. This outbreak caused widespread mortality and profoundly affected coastal and inland Read more [...]

The Oratory of San Rocco and San Sebastiano (Oratory of Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian) is a small place of worship located in the beautiful seaside village of Riomaggiore. The oratory is built in a panoramic position next to the Castle of Riomaggiore, on the ridge that separates the Rio Maggiore valley, where the village rises.   SHORT HISTORY According to some people, the Oratory of San Rocco was built in 1480 as a sign of gratitude for the end of the plague that killed almost half the population of the village. According to others, the oratory was built almost a century later.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE The small building, with very simple architectural forms, is preceded by a portico. The interior, consisting of a single room covered by a lowered barrel vault and decorated with devotional frescoes, takes light from small windows splayed in the thickness of the walls. On the Baroque altar there is a triptych with the Virgin and Child between Saint Roch and Saint Sebastian.   HOW TO GET THERE The Oratory of San Rocco is located about 450 meters away from the Riomaggiore railway station, or about 8-10 minutes on foot. Depending on the route Read more [...]

The Church of San Pietro is one of the most evocative religious monuments in Portovenere. Dedicated to Saint Peter, the church rises dramatically on a rocky promontory at the western edge of the historic village, directly facing the sea and overlooking the wide expanse of the Gulf of Poets. Its isolated position, suspended between land and water, gives it a symbolic and visual power unmatched by any other building in Portovenere. Perched above the waves, the Church of San Pietro appears almost inseparable from the cliff on which it stands. The surrounding landscape amplifies its spiritual presence: steep rock walls descend into the sea, while the open horizon stretches endlessly westward. This unique setting has made the church one of the most recognizable landmarks of the Ligurian coast and a defining image of Portovenere. Beyond its striking location, the Church of San Pietro represents a layered historical and architectural narrative. Over centuries, the building absorbed religious, military, and cultural functions, reflecting the changing role of Portovenere within the Mediterranean world.   Short History of the Church of San Pietro The origins of the Church of San Pietro are deeply rooted in antiquity. The site on which the church stands was Read more [...]

The Church of San Lorenzo is one of the most important religious landmarks of Portovenere, standing in a commanding position on a hill that overlooks the historic village and the Ligurian Sea. Located close to the Castello Doria, the church dominates the urban skyline and serves as a visual and spiritual focal point for the town. Today, the building is also known as the Sanctuary of the White Madonna (Santuario della Madonna Bianca). The White Madonna is the patron saint of Portovenere and represents the deepest expression of local religious devotion. Its elevated position reinforces its symbolic role. From the church terrace and surrounding paths, the view extends over the harbor, the islands, and the coastline, linking sacred space with the maritime environment that has shaped Portovenere’s history.   Short History of the Church of San Lorenzo According to historical tradition, the origins of the Church of San Lorenzo date back to the late 11th century. Construction of the first building in Romanesque style is believed to have begun around 1098, during a period of intense architectural and religious development in Liguria. The site itself appears to have been sacred even before the medieval church was built. Ancient sources suggest Read more [...]

The Church of the Immaculate Conception (Chiesa dell’Immacolata Concezione) is a beautiful church in Sestri Levante, located on an elevated position to the east of Baia del Silenzio.   SHORT HISTORY The first Capuchin friars arrived in the village in 1609, and settled right in the center of Sestri Levante. In 1640, they built a church with a conventual structure attached, the today’s complex of the Church of San Pietro in Vincoli. The urbanization of the town in the following years, which no longer allowed the friars proper isolation from the population, led them to choose a more isolated location on the hill located east of the Bay of Silence. The construction of the new complex began in 1683 and ended in 1688, the year of the transfer of the order to the new convent. The former complex was sold in 1686 to the Secular Priests of San Pietro in Vincoli. In the agreement signed with the Seculars, it was agreed that any work of art and furnishings should remain the property of the Capuchins. The property of the convent was managed directly by the friars until 1866 when, for unknown reasons, the church and the convent were sold to Read more [...]

The Church of Santa Maria di Nazareth is a beautiful church in Sestri Levante, located in Piazza Giacomo Matteotti, near the wonderful Baia del Silenzio.   SHORT HISTORY The presence of a small chapel dedicated to Saint Mary of Nazareth is attested on this place as early as 1368. In 1604, the building of a new church began, supervised by the architect Gio Batta Carbone, who will finish the work almost 12 years later, in 1616. The church inherited the title of co-cathedral of the diocese of Brugnato from the pre-existing Church of San Nicolò, and was the residence of the bishops of the diocese from the 16th to the 18th century. In the first half of the 19th century, Giambattista Prato restructured the facade of the church, also adding a neoclassical pronaos.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE The interior has a structure with three naves divided by square pillars with pilasters on which rounded arches rest. The decorations are dated between the 18th and 19th centuries. The central nave has a barrel vault with lunettes, a raised presbytery and a semicircular apse. In the side aisles there are several side chapels with small cross vaults. The high altar with polychrome Read more [...]

The Church of San Giovanni Battista is a Catholic church located in the upper part of the historical center of Riomaggiore, in Via Pecunia, 47.   SHORT HISTORY The church was built in Romanesque style in 1340, as stated by a plaque on the facade, at the behest of the bishop of the diocese of Luni, Antonio Fieschi. Due to a collapse of the church, an important restoration was carried out between 1870 and 1871. The extension of the complex and the reconstruction of the facade in Neo-Gothic style preserved, however, the 14th-century rose window in white Carrara marble.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE On the right side of the church, there are still visible today the single-lancet windows and the two entrances in Gothic style decorated with zoomorphic and anthropomorphic elements dated back to the Romanesque period. The interior has a basilica plan and is divided into three naves, with ogival arches. The presbytery and the two end chapels, all closed by a balustrade with statues, have a late Baroque appearance. Behind the main altar, adorned with two 18th-century statues, there is a beautiful wooden choir. Two other marble altars are on the sides. The one on the right is Read more [...]

The Church of Santa Margherita d’Antiochia is located in the seaside village of Vernazza, near the main square of the town, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi.   SHORT HISTORY It seems that a first church in Romanesque style was built on this place in the 11th century. Two centuries later, the current church was raised on the foundations of the previous one, of which only the apse remained. The new building is mentioned for the first time in a document from 1318. Between the 16th and 17th centuries, the structure was considerably enlarged, however, destroying the medieval facade. In the 18th century, the church underwent a new renovation, with the interior being redecorated in Baroque style. From the 19th century, the access to the church is made from the square, through a door built in the apse area. Between 1964 and 1970, new restorations were made: the wooden roof was replaced, the bell tower was elevated and the interior was again redecorated in Romanesque style.   ART AND ARCHITECTURE The church has a 40-meter-high octagonal bell-tower, crowned with arches and with an ogival dome on top. Inside, there are two paintings from the 17th century, a processional crate and a wooden crucifix, Read more [...]

The Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta stands as one of the most recognizable landmarks of Camogli, rising directly above the marina and forming a visual dialogue with the sea, the beach, and the town’s tall, colorful façades. Built on a rocky spur at the water’s edge, the basilica dominates the waterfront and has long served as Camogli’s spiritual, architectural, and symbolic heart. Over the centuries, the building has undergone multiple phases of expansion, restoration, and artistic enrichment, reflecting the town’s historical fortunes and its deep connection to maritime life. The basilica is particularly notable for its richly decorated Baroque interior, its numerous chapels dedicated to saints closely linked to local devotion, and its prominent role in the religious life of the Ligurian coast.     Short History of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta According to historical sources, the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta was originally built in the 12th century, at a time when Camogli was developing as an important maritime settlement. As Camogli grew in population and prosperity, especially during the late Middle Ages and early modern period, the church underwent a series of expansions and architectural modifications to accommodate the evolving needs of the faithful. Major interventions Read more [...]

The Church of San Giorgio is a small Catholic church in Portofino, located on an elevated position, enjoying a panoramic view of the Marina di Portofino. The church is dedicated to Saint George, a soldier in the Roman army and member of the Praetorian Guard for Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to renounce his Christian faith.   SHORT HISTORY According to a plaque located inside the church, the structure was built in Romanesque style in 1154. The church was revised and modified in 1691 and, at the same time, the road of Salita San Giorgio was widened, allowing the locals to reach the church from the main square of the village. A further restoration took place in 1760. During the Second World War, the church was completely destroyed by a bomb. The reconstruction work started after the end of the conflict, in 1950, and the church was rebuilt following the plans of 1760. Inside the church, there are the relics of Saint George, the patron saint of Portofino, brought by the sailors returning from the Crusades.   HOW TO GET THERE You can get to the Church of San Giorgio after a short climb of Read more [...]