Along the breathtaking road that winds from Santa Margherita to Portofino, an ancient marvel reveals itself: the Abbey of La Cervara. Perched on a cliff above the sea, this historic 14th-century haven has welcomed popes, kings, and poets—among them Pope Gregory XI, King Francis I, and Francesco Petrarca.
Its renaissance began on a stormy Palm Sunday in 1990, when an entrepreneur from Lombardy and his partner, the architect Mide Osculati, captivated by its forgotten beauty, vowed to rescue it from oblivion. It was love at first sight—without a set plan, only the desire to restore and return its splendor to the world. Stone by stone, guided by Ligurian tradition and under the supervision of the renowned restorer who had brought new life to The Last Supper, La Cervara was reborn.
Today, the terraced Italian gardens—once planted with vegetables by monks—seem suspended between sky and sea, keepers of secrets whispered by the wind. The Abbey’s eleven guest-rooms, including those in the ancient Saracen Tower, welcome the discerning traveler into a timeless tale, cradled by antique frescoes, historic furnishings, and the gentle breath of the waves.
Here, at La Cervara, every stone holds the echo of those who loved it, and every window opens onto an enchanting fragment of time.
This is La Cervara—a place where old dreams linger and new ones are born, suspended between the murmur of the sea and the scent of flowers, like an echo carried through the centuries.
