Page 123 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Italian Riviera

THE RIVIER A DI LE V ANTE  121

(the medieval district around
the church of Sant’Andrea and
the hill of San Giacomo), and
the Borgo Nuovo, which grew
up in the 15th century on the
nearby plain. In the medieval
district is the lovely Loggia del
Comune (13th century), the
Casa Restani, with a 13th–
14th-century portico, a castle
(privately owned) and a stretch
of the old town walls, dating
from 1265.
The principal monument
is the parish church of Sant’
The beach at Moneglia in summer, crowded with tourists Andrea, a beautiful example of
Ligurian Gothic. The façade is
gentle pace. Long years of for a defensive naval base. striped with white marble and
loyalty to the Republic of These days, Bonassola has no local serpentine (a softish green
Genoa have left many traces: marina, but it is not difficult to stone), with a finely carved rose
among them, the Fortezza land small boats here. The town window. Serpentine is also used
Monleone, dating from 1173, also has a wide beach, mostly in the capitals of the columns
and the 16th-century Castello pebbles, and the sea bed is in the nave. Works of art inside
di Villafranca, on the slopes varied and suited to dives of include two canvases from a
above the town centre. medium difficulty. polyptych by Carlo Braccesco
The striped parish church Sights of interest include (1495) depicting Saints Augustine
of Santa Croce (1726) has the parish church of Santa and Jerome and Saints Blaise
Last Supper by Luca Caterina (16th century), with and Pantaleon. In the former
Cambiaso, the great sumptuous Baroque deco- oratory of the church is a Museo
16th-century artist who ration and numerous ex Permanente della Cultura
was born in Moneglia. votos – evidence of Materiale, which reconstructs
Inside, there are also the busy seafaring lives various aspects of the rural
two links from the of the inhabitants. and seafaring life of the Riviera
chain that once closed The tiny church of di Levante.
the gates of Pisa – Madonna della Among vestiges of Levanto’s
trophies from the Punta, built on a cliff more recent past are several
battle of Meloria (see jutting out over the sea important palazzi (often with
p43), in which the to the west of the pretty painted façades) dating
Monegliese helped village, is the focus of from the 17th and 18th
Genoa to defeat Pisa. Santa Croce bell a popular sunset walk. centuries, when many Genoese
There is plenty of tower, Moneglia Several old villages noble families chose to build
scope for swimming in the vicinity are their summer residences here:
at Moneglia, especially worth exploring, either on foot Palazzo Vannoni, facing on to
beneath the cliffs, and there or by car. One path, following a Piazza Cavour, is the most
are lovely walks through the route through vineyards and important one.
maquis west towards Punta olive groves, takes walkers the
Baffe and Punta Manara, or 9 km (6 miles) to Montaretto, E Museo Permanente della
through hillside villages and known for its production (albeit Cultura Materiale
scenic vineyards towards the limited) of good white wine. Piazzetta Massola 4. Tel 0187 817
Bracco mountain pass. 776. Open Jul & Aug: 9–11pm
Tue–Sun; at other times
by request.
t Levanto
r Bonassola
La Spezia. Road Map E4. * 5,800.
La Spezia. Road Map E4. * 1,000. V n Piazza Cavour, 0187 808 125.
V @ n Via Fratelli Rezzano, 0187 _ Festa del Mare (24–25 Jul).
813 500. _ Madonna del Rosario ∑ levanto.com
(first weekend in Oct).
∑ prolocobonassola.it Over the years, Levanto
has been a centre for trade,
Built around a cove, in a agriculture and, most recently,
splendid spot, Bonassola was tourism: it has a long and
selected by the Genoese in lovely beach. The small town Striped white marble façade of Sant’Andrea
the 13th century as the site is divided into Borgo Antico, in Levanto

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