Sestri Levante Attractions

Source www.life-globe.com

Sestri Levante is a small resort town located on the coast of the Ligurian Sea. its historical center is located between two bays: Silence and Fairy tales.

Most of Sestri Levante's attractions are concentrated in the historic center of the town.

The historic center of Sestri opens onto two bays separated by an isthmus that connects a large rocky cape, the oldest part of the resort, with the mainland, forming the peninsula of Sestri Levante.

Notable in the historical and tourist center are:

- Bay of Silence and Bay of Fairy Tales, which are already attractions in themselves and where the beaches of Sestri Levante are located.

The beach of the Bay of Silence is considered the most charming beach not only of Sestri, but also of the entire Riviera di Levante coastline.

- Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini (Palazzo Durazzo-Pallavicini) is the town hall of Sestri, built in the second half of the 17th century, in the walls of which there is a painting by Francesco Bassano depicting the Adoration of the Magi;

- Basilica di Santa Maria di Nazareth, built in the seventeenth century, with a neoclassical pronaos.

Today, two towers on either side of the main structure remain from the 17th-century facade. The portal above the central entrance, where there is a marble statue of the Madonna with Child, remains from the 19th century.

Baroque paintings are kept inside the church;

- Palazzo Fascie Rossi, built at the beginning of the twentieth century.

The palace now contains the headquarters of the municipal library, the historical archive, the archaeological and municipal museums and the tourist information center;

- The church of San Pietro in Vincoli (Chiesa di San Pietro in Vincoli), built by the Capuchin Fathers in 1640 with the addition of a convent. The whole complex has since undergone several modifications and extensions;

- Villa Brignole-Balbi is a historic aristocratic residence built in the 17th century.

Today, in the villa's walls is the 4-star Grand Hotel Villa Balbi with an internal Italian garden, private beach area, outdoor pool, restaurant and bar.

- palace is the Galleria Museo Rizzi (Rizzi Museum Gallery).

The gallery was born from the will of Marcello Rizzi, who after his death wanted his residence to become the city's museum. The museum exhibits artworks and objects that Rizzi collected over the years;

- Church of the Immaculate Conception (Chiesa dell'Immacolata Concezione) with the adjacent 17th-century Convento Frati Cappuccini, located on the slope of Cape Manara.

The shrine was built in 1688 in medieval style with a characteristic facade with black and white stripes;

- the building of the former Annunciation Monastery, built in the 15th century, which is now a venue for cultural conferences and various events, where there is also an viewpoint offering views to the sea and the beach of Silence Bay;

- The ruins of the ancient church of St. Catherine (Ruderi dell'Oratorio di Santa Caterina), built in 1578 and destroyed during the aerial bombardment of World War II in 1944;

- Church of San Nicolò dell'Isola (Chiesa di San Nicolò dell'Isola), dating back to 1151, probably built on an earlier and more primitive shrine constructed by the Bobbio friars of Colombia.

It is the oldest church in Sestri and was the main parish church of Sestri Levante until the 17th century, after which the church of Santa Maria di Nazareth became the main sanctuary of the town;

- Villa Gualino is a historic building, also known as Castelli Gualino, which is a historical and architectural monument of Sestri.

So called (because it imitates the ancient medieval style) "Castelli Gualino" was built between 1925 and 1929, ordered by the Piedmontese industrialist Riccardo Gualino.

The Villa Gualino complex consisted of three buildings. Around the buildings of the villa there was an extensive garden with views to the sea and surrounding countryside.

In 1950 the whole complex of Villa Gualino was transformed into the 4-star Grand Hotel Dei Castelli, which it is today.

The hotel has preserved the exterior and interior structures of the castle. The hotel is still surrounded by extensive gardens.

In the so-called new part of Sestri Levante, which goes deep into the "mainland" part of the city, there are not many sights, but all of them are of spiritual, architectural or historical values.

The Palazzo Durazzo-Cattaneo Della Volta Palace (Palazzo Durazzo-Cattaneo Della Volta), formerly known as Palazzo Doria (Già palazzo dei Doria) was built in the mid-15th century. The villa is an 18th century building, where you can also see the attached chapel of Giacomo Gaggini, built by order of Giuseppe Maria Durazzo in 1725.

The villa is located near the river, where the river is crossed by an old single span bridge that houses a small shrine.

The Parish Church of St. Anthony (Parrocchia Di S. Antonio) dates back to the sixties of the 20th century and was built on the site of earlier religious buildings.

Shrine of Christ the King (Santuario di Cristo Re)

The sanctuary of Christ the King was built between 1929 and 1933.

The upper part of the church, called "dei Viventi", is the place where religious functions are carried out and where the high altar is located with the presence of a small chest symbolizing the Eucharistic Jesus. On the altar is a globe with the tree of life (recalling Genesis) and the Cross of Jesus.

In the lower part of the shrine is an underground crypt divided into two areas. The first area contains the tombs of Father Enrico Mauri, creator of the opera Madonnina del Grappa, and his collaborator Father Carlo Vanoni, as well as other tombstones of civil and ecclesiastical personalities. The second area contains graphic representations of the symbols of Italian municipal coats of arms.

The House of Opera Madonnina del Grappa (casa dell'Opera Madonnina del Grappa)

The house of the Opera is located near the Church of Christ the King.

Evangelical Christian Church of the Brothers (chiesa Cristiana Evangelica dei fratelli)

An unremarkable church located on the first floor of a modern building.

Villa Durazzo-Solari-Serlupi.

Now Villa Rimassa.

The villa was built by order of Cesare Durres, Doge of Genoa in 1665-1667 and was the home of Emperor Joseph II in 1784.

The villa dates from the nineteenth century and is located near the church of San Stefano del Ponte. The villa is surrounded by gardens. Access to the patronal residence is via staircases that also lead to the production center of the villa itself: a complex of farms.

Within Villa Farms is located Dimore dell'Esedra Guest House with a garden, private parking and 4 bedrooms.

Church of Santo Stefano del Ponte (Chiesa di Santo Stefano del Ponte)

The construction of the church dates back to the early Christian period, possibly by the monks of San Colombano di Bobbio, but nothing remains of the original church, at least on the surface.

The first official records relating to the church are documented in t 1012 and again in 1034. The present building, which was later enlarged and enriched, dates back to the 18th century.

Inside, the church is divided into three naves with three altars. Each of the naves is highlighted by two massive columns with Corinthian capitals and round arches. The central and larger nave finishes with a deep apse.

Piazza Alessandro Pertini (Piazza Sandro Pertini)

A small square named in honor of the Italian politician and president of Italy from 1978 to 1985.

Mariele Ventre Park (Giardini Mariele Ventre)

The public gardens with statue are named in honor of the Italian singer and musician Mariele Ventre (1939 - 1995).

Mariele Ventre's gardens include walking paths, seating areas, a children's playground, a stage, flower beds, a fountain and sculptures.

In addition to those listed above, in Sestre Levante there are other historic buildings and villas, which you can see by walking through the streets of this small but colorful and cozy town.