The Church of Saint Michael the Archangel was one of the first churches built in Liguria.
The church originally oversaw the religious activities of the town of Pieve di Sori.
In 1920 the town split into smaller towns and the church was resituated in the new town of Pieve Ligure. |
The edifice of the church was constructed prior to the year 1000 and was situated where the house of the parish priest now stands.
Between the 15th and 16th centuries, a new church was erected.
This new structure was augmented in the following centuries, leading to the splendid structure which stands today.
The church rises on the dominating hill of the Golfo Paradiso, this position was chosen for protection from the pirate attacks that ravaged the Ligurian coast at the time.
On the inside of the church one can admire the rich and numerous frescos by artists such as Pierin del Vaga, a student Raffael. |
Characteristic of the church’s grand artistry, are the holy water basins which were fashioned from natural exotic seashells donated by mariners who found the shells during their long, and often exotic, voyages away from Liguria. The importance given to the shape and height of the church’s belltower is of particular interest. The belltower was built 40 metres high in order to be seen by sailors returning home from their several month and even year-long voyages. |
