San Pietro Church Portovenere

Explore the Golfo dei Poeti ( Poet's Gulf ) 

The San Pietro Church Portovenere is one of the landmarks in the landscape of Portovenere. You will be hard pressed to miss it as it soars on a high rock spur at the end of piazza L. Spallanzani. Its beauty is even more stricking contrasting
its structure against the backdrop of the turquoise Ligurian sea.

View of San Pietro Church as seen from Doria Castle

The Church was built between 1256 and 1277 by the Genoeses, on the remains of a paleo-Christian church, superimposed on a pagan temple dedicated to the goddess Venus Ericina.

San Pietro Church - its facade and belfry

The inside of the church is decorated by large black and white bands, and the chancel is endowed with two lateral squared chapels, covered by oval vaults. For the brave technique of its structure and for the refined elegance of its interior, the church is considered as one of the exemplary buildings of the Gothic-Genoese architecture in Liguria.

The church has always been part of the rich historic events of Portovenere : the Aragonese bombardment in 1494, the occupation by the Austrian-Russian troops and lastly the disastrous period of Napoleon, who ordered the church to be used as a battery for the defence of the Gulf.

San Pietro Church on its rocky spur

The Church underwent a significant restoration work between 1929 and 1934. And today is a must-see spot and a preferred location for weddings and other special events. 

Thank you for visiting our guide… we look forward to welcoming you to Liguria and hope you will love it as much as we do !

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