Santa Maria di Castello church is part of an impressive complex that also includes a convent and a museum. Discover a site with great historic, artistic and architectural importance and marvel at one of the oldest structures in Genoa.
The church is a Romanesque-style construction built on the site of the city's first urban settlement. It was entrusted to the Dominican Catholic religious order in 1442 and became a meeting point for humanists and writers. Take some photos of the site and make sure you wander inside to see some of its valuable artworks.
The complex has spectacular art pieces commissioned by important noble families of Genoa. The cloister houses The Annunciation, a famous masterpiece painted by the German artist Giusto di Alemagna in 1451. See other creations by artists such as the Baroque Italian painters Francesco Boccaccino and Alessandro Gherardini, the Italian sculptor Francesco Maria Schiaffino and Pier-Francesco Sacchi, an Italian painter of the Renaissance period.
The five chapels on the left aisle of the church date back to the 15th century, while the five chapels on the right date back to the 16th century. Inside the chapels you’ll find exquisite artwork, such as the sculpture by the Italian artist Anton Maria Maragliano. Find the high altar and see the marble sculptures by Domenico Parodi, an Italian painter, sculptor and architect of the late-Baroque period. If you are lucky you may be able to take a free tour with the group Friends of the Church. They can guide you through places that are usually closed to the public, such as the sacristy, cloisters and the museum.
Find the Santa Maria di Castello complex near the subway stop Sant'Agostino. The church can be a bit difficult to locate, so practice your Italian and ask the locals for directions. Make sure you wander around the area to discover the remains of a bishop's fortified castle dating from the Middle Ages, and the tall and picturesque Embriaci Tower flanking the church.
