MONTEROSSO AL MARE - CINQUE TERRE
liguria
Monterosso al Mare is the most western town of the Cinque Terre. The village is protected by hills covered with vineyard and olive groves. Monterosso has beautiful beaches, steep rugged cliffs and crystalline waters. The Aurora Tower, on the hill of San Cristoforo, divides the old medieval hamlet, from the new part of the village, developed along the Fegina beach. Oldo Monterosso is dominated by the ruins of the castle and characterized by typical tower-houses crossed by the "carruggi", narrow medieval streets. In the XVI century Monterosso was defended by thirteen towers. Today only remains the three towers of the castle, the medieval tower converted into the bell tower of San Giovanni Church and the Aurora tower.
Church of "San Giovanni Battista"
The Church was built between 1244 and 1307 in Ligurian Gothic style. The beautiful facade is decorated with white and green marble. It has a pointed arch between little marble column surmounted by a rose window attributed to Matteo and Pietro from Campiglio. Like the churches of Vernazza and Corniglia, the inside narrows progressively towards the entrance. The bell tower crowned by merlons was originally a medieval defensive tower with a rectangular plant in green stone.
Oratory of the "Confraternita dei Bianchi" or of Santa Croce
In the historical center of Monterosso, beyond the church of Saint John the Baptist, taking to the right, we find the oratory of the "Confraternita dei Bianchi" (White Men). It owes its name to the colour of the garments used by the Confraternita during processions.
Oratory of the "Confraternita dei Neri"
The oratory of the "Confraternita dei Neri" (Black Men) "Mortis et Orationis" is next to the church of Saint John the Baptist. It has a Baroque style and conserves a statue of Sant'Antonio Abate, coming from the disappeared convent of Saint Antonio, originally located in Punta Mesco. It dates back to the XVI century, when during the Counter-Reformation developed many religious associations, the "Confraternite". Usually every village had at least two "confraternite", like in Monterosso with the "Confraternita" of Santa Croce or of the Bianchi (White Men).
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Soviore
The most ancient marian sanctuary of Liguria was built where in 643 the inhabitants of the disappeared village of Albareto, look for shelter. Some of the old building structures date to that period. In 996 it was visited by Emperor Ottone III. The church is the result of various restorations and its structure has Romanesque, Gothic and Barocco elements. The spired bell tower has three plans, opened with double lancet windows. In the sanctuary it is adored a XV century wooden statue representing a "Pietà", of Nordic school.
Abbey of the Cappuccini and Church of San Francesco
The abbey and the church rise on the hill of Saint Cristoforo that divides the old part of Monterosso from the new one of Fegina. It was built since 1619 and suffered hard periods, like the hunting of the friars with Napoleon in 1810, the transformation in a hospital and then in warehouse. In 1894 Don Giuseppe Policardi, clergyman of Monterosso, bought the structure, restored it and he donated it to the Cappuccini. The Church dedicated to San Francesco is much evocative. It has an aisle encircled by wooden altars. Inside we find the painting of the Crucifixion, attributed to Van Dick, a San Girolamo penitent of Cambiaso and a 1896 Madonna of the Angels of Oldoino Multedo. On the right of the church, the ruins of the old castle are now the cemetery.
Castle of Monterosso
The Castle of Monterosso rises on the hill that separates the ancient village from the newest Fegina. The primitive construction of the Obertenghi family were strengthened and widened by Genoa. Today the ruins of the walls, three circular towers and a square tower are inglobated in the cemetary. The defensive system of Monterosso comprehended also a tower in the village, today the belfry of the church of Saint John the Baptist and another tower situated on the rocks in front of the sea, still existing, the Aurora Tower.
+39 347 6708101
