San Fruttuoso Abbey, Camogli

The monastic complex, unique and singular in its kind, linked to its particular location in the bay of Capodimonte, includes: the church, the cloister, and the abbey. Its origin is tied to the transfer of the relics of San Fruttuoso to the bay, around the 8th century, by Greek monks.

The abbey dates back to the 10th-11th century, except for the part facing the sea which can be dated to the 13th century, composed of two orders of triple windows, whose style refers to Genoese noble palaces. The bell tower, built around the 10th century, originally with a spherical dome in line with Byzantine artistic canons, was later overlaid by an octagonal tower.

The abbey’s cloister was built in the 12th century and later modified by the will of Andrea Doria; today it consists of two orders of arches. On the upper floor, a walkway with ribbed vaults resting on columns overlooks the square courtyard, while the lower part was used as the burial site of members of the Doria family who died between 1275 and 1305. These are tombs surmounted by pointed-arch arcosoliums alternated with white and black stripes, typical of Ligurian art. In addition to the tombs of the noble Genoese family, there are two other burial sites and an ancient Roman sarcophagus.

In the 17th century, the complex underwent a true structural decline; some areas were converted into sheepfolds, others into wood storage. In 1730, Camillo Doria intervened, carrying out restoration that restored the church to its original function.

In 1915, a flood destroyed part of the complex, which was restored by the State in 1933. In 1983, the Doria Pamphili family donated the San Fruttuoso complex to the FAI, and restoration work began in 1985.