Chiostro di Sant'Andrea, Medieval ruins at Porta Soprana, Genova, Italy
The Chiostro di Sant'Andrea is a medieval monastery courtyard in Genoa featuring stone arches and columns arranged around a central open space. The structure displays 12th-century architectural details typical of Benedictine design with carefully crafted stone work throughout.
The monastery was founded in the early 11th century as a Benedictine community and housed nuns from notable Genoese families for centuries. Following closure during the Napoleonic era, the courtyard was relocated to its current location in 1922 after the original complex was demolished.
The carved capitals show scenes from biblical stories and medieval daily life, reflecting how the monastery community understood their spiritual and earthly worlds. These sculptures blend religious imagery with depictions of work and customs that were part of monastic life.
Access is through an entrance near Columbus House, where visitors can easily reach the site. The courtyard is open for walking through and exploring on foot.
What stands today is only a fragment of the original monastery, carefully dismantled and reassembled at this location after the main complex was torn down. The courtyard was reconstructed under scholarly supervision to preserve this piece of medieval architecture for future generations.
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