Santa Maria di Castello

Genoa


Built on the site of the original settlement, and sheltering under the 11th-century Embriaci Tower, this Romanesque church and convent, itself built before AD 900, is an extraordinary and little-visited historic site. Its walls are covered with treasures that were commissioned by the noble families of Genoa from the earliest times, though some of the notable frescoes also date to the 16th and 17th century. Private tours, by coin donation, are possible.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Genoa attractions

1. Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

0.17 MILES

Genoa's zebra-striped Gothic–Romanesque cathedral owes its continued existence to the poor quality of a British WWII bomb that failed to ignite here in…

2. Museo del Tesoro

0.17 MILES

In the sacristy of the Cattedrale di San Lorenzo, the Museo del Tesoro preserves various dubious holy relics, including the medieval Sacro Catino, a glass…

3. Chiesa del Gesù

0.21 MILES

Hidden behind Piazza de Ferrari, this former Jesuit church dating from 1597 has an intricate and lavish interior. The wonderfully frescoed walls and…

4. Palazzo Ducale

0.22 MILES

Once the seat of the independent republic, this grand palace was built in the Mannerist style in the 1590s and was largely refurbished after a fire in the…

5. Porto Antico

0.23 MILES

The port that once controlled a small empire is now one of the most popular places to enjoy a passeggiata (evening stroll). Superyacht lovers are…

6. Palazzo San Giorgio

0.24 MILES

One of the most famous monuments on Genoa's waterfront is this mural-covered building constructed in 1260. St George is one of Genoa's patron saints, and…

7. Porta Soprana

0.26 MILES

Three monumental gates were built in Genoa from 1155 as part of a defensive wall system. Porta Soprana is one of two that survived, Porta dei Vacca is the…

8. Piazza de Ferrari

0.26 MILES

Genoa's fountain-embellished main piazza is ringed by magnificent buildings that include the art nouveau Palazzo della Borsa, which was once the country's…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "italy/liguria-piedmont-and-valle-daosta/genoa/attractions/santa-maria-di-castello/a/poi-sig/1575093/359915",
      "destination": "Genoa",
      "continent": "Europe",
      "country": "Italy",
      "city": "Genoa",
      "position": "superzone"
    }