The Benedictine La Cervara Abbey, located in Santa Margherita Ligure on the Gulf of Tigullio, is a rare concentrate of wonders. The structure was founded in the second half of the 1300s and greatly renovated in the 16th century.

It includes the church of San Girolamo, which has a Latin cross layout and slate and marble columns; a beautiful quadrangular cloister from the 1500s; a watchtower built to guard the area from Saracen attacks; a wonderful Italian monumental garden overlooking the sea; a vibrant “garden of simples” (or botanical garden) filled with the scents of Florentine lemon trees and Chinese mandarin oranges…