The Church of Santo Stefano

Genoa boasts a remarkable collection of churches with rich architectural heritage. Take the Church of Santo Stefano just beside you. Built between the 10th and 13th centuries at the request of Benedictine monks, its main aim was to evangelise the eastern part of the city. Depending on where you’re standing, the building may seem rather plain. Yet, it’s considered one of the most intriguing Romanesque churches in Genoa. Walk around or step closer to the main façade, and you’ll start to see why. Notice the signature two-tone cladding of white marble and dark slate, an iconic feature of religious buildings in this region. Then there’s the pointed arch doorway, framed by sculpted capitals in a Corinthian style. Above it all, the tall bell tower, once used as a watchtower, reaching up into the sky. Inside, the church is quite bare, and natural light is limited. Knowing that Christopher Columbus is believed to have been baptised here casts these quiet walls in a new light. The baptismal font where that ceremony may have taken place still stands. Keep an eye out for it, or ask one of the staff members on site for a closer look.