Cervara Abbey

Cervara Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Santa Margherita Ligure located along the coastal road toward Portofino, featuring a church built on a Latin cross plan and a cloister from the 16th century. The complex includes monks' residences, a sacristy, and various service rooms arranged around a central courtyard.

The monastery was founded in 1361 and gained official abbey status in 1546 under Benedictine rule, having initially been established on land provided by Carthusian monks. This transition marked a shift in how the community was organized and managed.

The monastery served as a center for Flemish artistic influence in the region, and visitors can see how this heritage shaped the religious art displayed here. The connection to Northern European masters brought a distinctive character to the local spiritual life that remains visible today.

The site is best reached on foot via the coastal road and serves as a good starting point for exploring nearby paths toward Portofino. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the terrain is hilly and stairs are needed to access different parts of the complex.

The complex includes a Renaissance garden with boxwood hedges and seasonal flowers on elevated terraces overlooking the Portofino marine protected area. This garden is unusual for a coastal monastery and demonstrates how monastic communities invested in carefully designed natural spaces.