Chiavari - Italy

Chiavari (GE)

Liguria (Italy)

Among the major cities of Liguria, the ancient Clavarium ("key down") is in the middle of the Gulf of Tigullio, the alluvial plain formed by the river Entella in a favorable position for communication with the side of the Po Valley.
The remains of a necropolis dating from the eighth and seventh centuries BC near the mouth of the river Rupinaro demonstrating that the area was inhabited by Tigulli already in pre-Roman times.
The findings are kept in the Civic Archaeological Museum in the palace Costaguta Rocca.
The foundation of the fortified town of Chiavari occurred in 1178 when the Genoese decided a policy of expansion in the Levante to counter the power of the Fieschi.
Can still see the ruins of the castle of 1147.
The place was The Citadel, fifteenth of the Genoese fortress which remains the crenellated tower (1537), stands the Palace of Justice (1886).
Near the historic town hall and the episcopal palace, seat of the diocesan museum, is the shrine of Nostra Signora dell'Orto, seventeenth-century cathedral, in many eighteenth-century works from monastic institutions abolished after the French Revolution.
The parish church of San Giovanni Battista, dating back to 1182, was rebuilt in 1624 and preserves valuable works, including paintings by Piola, the Carlone of Fiasella and De Ferrari, the frescoes in the presbytery, choir stalls (1631) and crucified by Maragliano.
Former thirteenth century church of San Francesco, renovated in 1630 at the behest of the family Costaguta, designed by Bartolomeo Bianco, is used for cultural events.
The church of St. James of Rupinaro dates back to XVII century.
Important building of the thirteenth century palace of Portici Neri, and the fourteenth-century palace Maschio Torriglia, with paintings which are collected works of Italian sixteenth and seventeenth century: among them the sacrifice of Moses Grechetto and paintings from the Genoese school.
In the heart of old town, the arcaded Via Martiri Liberation maintained commercial vocation: it is the caruggio dritto, that the second half of the fourteenth century it became the way of representation of the bourgeoisie.
At Chiavari surviving ancient craftsmanship: the chairs Campanini, and macramé lace, which you can admire the market, held every month in the streets.
On the street Raveschieri, residential street in the middle Ages, the seat of the Economic Society was founded in 1791: has a rich library (55,000 volumes), a historical museum and a picture gallery.
The marina has 470 berths.
From the fifteenth century sanctuary of the Madonna delle Grazie in Bacezza, the landscape ranges from Portofino to Sestri Levante.
The church is a remarkable cycle of frescoes by Luca Cambiaso and Teramo Piaggio and the Flemish statue of the Madonna delle Grazie.