Cinque Terre (Italy) > Reviews > San Terenzo

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Once it was a fisher village. San Terenzo was discovered in XIX century by these famous tourists of the gulf Shelley and Byron.

Today San Terenzo is a populous and bright village, in a splendid position. The sea, the beach and the houses are very close to each other, so San Terenzo maintains the Ligurian spirit. The Castle is on the east side; it's a quadrangular for of the end of Middle Ages. It's built on the top of the hill from which you can see the sea-side below. The Parish Church was built in XVII century on the remains of an older church. It's dedicated to the nativity of the Virgin Mary whose feast is the 8th of September. Inside you can admire a base-relief by Domenico Gar, a XV century painting of the Virgin Mary by Arena and two large paintings by Domenico Fiasella.

Villa Magni its portico was on the sea front. Shelley lived here in 1822 until leaving for the tragic trip which the shipwreck on Viareggio's coast. Villa Marigola is on the top of the hill. Today is the seat of "Centro Studi della Cassa di Risparmio della Spezia".
In this villa Sem Benelli wrote "La cena delle beffe" and the famous painter Arnoldo Bocklin lived here during his frequents visits to San Terenzo and drew ispiration walking in the beautiful garden of the Villa. Recently San terenzo has added modern ammeneties: a wonderful beach in front of the multicoloured houses a promenade leading west in direction of the rocks and the castle.