San Pietro, the church built into the rock and symbol of Porto Venere

THE CHURCHES

Historic patrimony

Visit Porto Venere - Liguria

The CHURCHES of
Porto Venere

History, culture, architecture

History, culture, architecture: religious and especially military aspects for Porto Venere and Palmaria island.
There is so much to see. In Porto Venere, above all the most admired work is the Church of San Pietro, symbol of the hamlet.

Church of San Pietro

The first small early Christian church that rose on the rocky point and was named after the Apostle found perhaps the foundations of a Roman temple dedicated to Venus. The same primitive Romanesque church was later connected with a Genoese Gothic style built in 1256 and 1277. The restored remains are incorporated and visible under the floor of the present church, which has a troubled history.
In 1494, it first suffered the consequences of a fire that developed in the village and then was hit by the artillery of the fleet of Charles VIII, king of France. In the years 1799-1800, during the occupation of the Astros - Russians was further damaged and in the period of the French occupation, under Napoleon, was even transformed into a coastal battery. Furniture and paintings were burned and even the beams became firewood.
The restoration work took place between 1929 and 1934. In the austere church there is a bronze statue of Saint Peter.

The Church of San Lorenzo

The church, in Romanesque style, three naves, was consecrated in 1130 by Pope Innocent II. On the facade it shows the alternation of white and black bands and above the portal a lunette depicting the martyrdom of the saint. Valuable works of art are kept in the temple. In the nave on the left is exposed the legendary cedar trunk of Lebanon landed in Porto Venere in 1204, carrying in a cavity cleverly carved and perfectly sealed a priceless sacred treasure, including a gold cross with gems believed to have been carried by Emperor Constantine. But in particular in the trunk was hidden a coloured parchment depicting the Madonna and Child and two saints in prayer. It is the venerated Madonna Bianca that today is shown at the bottom of the right aisle of the parish, in a frame of white marble, and that is pompously celebrated on August 17 with a striking night service, among hundreds of torches and lights in the old town and on boats.