Description of the attraction
Santa Maria di Castello is a church that is part of the religious complex of the Dominican order. It is located on the Castello hill in Genoa, on the site where an ancient Roman fortress once stood. The huge Torre Embriachi tower rises to the side of the church.
Santa Maria di Castello, built in Romanesque style, was erected around 900 AD. Today within its walls you can see many works of art donated by the noble families of Genoa - these are the works of such masters as Francesco Maria Schiaffino, Lorenzo Fasolo, Alessandro Gherardini, Giuseppe Palmieri, Francesco Boccaccino, Pier Francesco Sacchi, etc. The frescoes depicting “Stories of David”, and majolica - painted pottery of the 16th century, made by local artists.
The altar of the church is decorated with a marble composition of the late 17th century "Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary" by Domenico Parodi. In the chapel to the left of the presbytery is the painting "Santa Rosa from Lima" by Domenico Piola. In another chapel you can see the painting "Madonna del Rosario" - a masterpiece by Anton Maria Maragliano.
The baptistery boasts a polyptych written by Lombard masters in the 15th century. The main entrance to the church is made in the Tuscan style in the middle of the 15th century and is surrounded by 14th century Gothic lunettes - arched openings.
The covered gallery, facing one of the cloisters, is painted with frescoes with images of the saints, the Madonna and the Annunciation by Giusto D'Alemagne in 1451. On the top floor of the gallery there is a statue of St. Catherine of Alexandria and a marble ark, the creation of which is attributed to Domenico Gagini.
