The legend of San Fruttuoso Abbey says that it was the martyr St Fructuosus himself who chose the bay for hiding his ashes, appearing in a dream to Prospero, Bishop of Tarragon, who was fleeing Spain to escape the Moors.
The very inaccessibility of the site and the presence of a source of fresh water rendered it, in the 8th century, an ideal location for the foundation of a church. Rebuilt in the 10th century as a Benedictine monastery, from the 13th century the abbey’s fate became intertwined with that of the Doria family, who renovated its design, adding the loggia with two tiers of three-light windows and transferring here the family burial ground.
In 1983, the family decided to donate the entire complex to FAI, which has undertaken its restoration since then. In April 2017 the works ended and now it is possible, by visiting the monastery, discovering its cloister and the Doria tombs, the primitive church and the parish church, the archaeological remains and the little village.
FAI - Fondo Ambiente Italiano
Via Carlo Foldi 2 - 20135 Milano
Phone: +39 02 46 76 15 393
Email: m.pizzorni@fondoambiente.it
