The Cloister of Sant’Andrea

As you walk from Porta Soprana toward Christopher Columbus’s house, keep your eyes peeled for a stone silhouette amid the greenery. Can you spot it? That’s the Cloister of Sant’Andrea, well known among Genoese locals, yet its origins remain a mystery to many of them. This area was once home to a massive 12th-century convent, bearing the same name. However, the city’s urban expansion plans in 1904 saw the demolition of most of the religious complex. The cloister, considered too beautiful to lose, was spared. It was carefully salvaged and restored in 1924 by an architect who reinstalled it on its original site. A fragment of memory brought back to life. As you move closer, you’ll notice how richly decorated the structure is. From scenes of the Old and New Testaments to depictions of agrarian and pastoral life, every detail tells a story.