Built in the 10th century by Greek months, the San Fruttuoso Abbey has a long history: from being a monastery to being a hideout for pirate, to a fisherman’s home, to the residence of the Princess of Doria... to finally, a Catholic abbey holding the ashes of the Saint Fructuosus of Tarragona, thanks to restoration by the Fondo Ambientale Italiano (FAI) or the Italian Environment Trust. Facing the pristine blue seas and surrounded by beautiful forested hills, the abbey is an environmental and heritage treasure. As part of Portofino’s Regional Nature Park, there are no roads that access it, though you can take a steep descending trail through the hills to the abbey, for those who are enthusiastic about hiking.

Another huge bonus for the sports fans is one of the most surreal diving spots in the world: the Christ of the Abyss statue, a 2.5-metre bronze statue submerged 18m underwater in 1954. If you don’t want to get wet, you can always take a boat out to it on a clear day and see it because of the crystal waters, or view the replica nearby, but nothing beats diving to see a peculiar and amazing statue of Christ underwater, extending his arms to the surface and the sky. A relatively easy dive due to the shelter of the bay against rough weather, many diving companies in nearby towns organise dive trips to the statue.

You can take a walk through the compound to revel in its history, and visit the museum that spans across two floors of the main abbey, where you can find artifacts related to Saint Fructuosus, as well as those relating to the region of Liguria, and even the history of the Islamic world. There are also cultural events like classical music concerts held in the cloister of the Abbey in the summer months, as well as temporary exhibitions hosted by Abbey.