Abbazia di San Fruttuoso

The Abbey of San Fruttuoso di Capodimonte sits in a car-free cove between Portofino and Camogli on the Ligurian Riviera, reachable only by footpath through dense macchia scrubland or by boat from Camogli or Santa Margherita Ligure. The monastic complex dates to around the year 1000, built by Benedictine monks over earlier sacred remains and dedicated to Fructuosus of Tarragona, whose relics were reportedly brought from Spain in the 9th century. The FAI (Italian National Trust) has managed the site since 1983, preserving its Romanesque cloister, defensive tower, and the ornate Doria family tombs inside the church. Just offshore at roughly 17 metres depth sits the bronze 'Cristo degli Abissi', a Christ statue placed in 1954 as a memorial to divers lost at sea — making this sheltered bay an unusual pilgrimage destination for both snorkellers and scuba divers.