Cassinelle Abbey, Medieval ruins in Sestri Ponente, Italy
Cassinelle Abbey is a former monastery in Sestri Ponente containing remnants of a single-nave church, residential buildings, and a defensive tower positioned at about 378 meters in elevation. The structures reveal how a medieval religious community organized its space across this hillside location.
The abbey originated in 1189 when Prior Raimondo obtained permission to construct a religious building in this location. It later sheltered canons from the Santa Croce di Mortara order, reflecting its importance within regional church networks.
The underground crypt holds 32 burial niches and preserves a marble tomb of the noble Grimaldi family dating to 1332.
The site is reachable via hiking paths beginning at Borzoli, following via Rivassa and continuing along via del Priano to reach the ruins. Visit during dry weather since the trails can become slippery due to the hilly terrain and loose ground conditions.
The name Cassinelle derives from the Ligurian term cascinélle, referring to small farmhouses that once scattered across this agricultural landscape. This rural heritage remains visible in the vegetation and terrain that surrounds the ruins today.
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