Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

Overview

The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is Genoa's principal church, instantly recognisable by its dramatic Gothic facade of alternating black-and-white marble stripes. Inside, the vaulted nave leads to the Museo del Tesoro, a treasury housing the Sacro Catino — a green glass dish once believed to be the Holy Grail.

Highlights

• Striped facade: The bold banding of Carrara white and Promontorio black slate is a hallmark of Ligurian Gothic.
• Sacro Catino: A 1st-century Roman glass dish displayed in the underground treasury, subject to centuries of Holy Grail legends.
• Chapel of St John the Baptist: Renaissance chapel containing what tradition holds are the relics of John the Baptist.

History

Consecrated by Pope Gelasius II in 1118, the cathedral was rebuilt in Gothic style in the 13th–14th centuries. The striped facade was completed around 1312. The treasury museum was designed by Franco Albini in 1956 and ingeniously embedded into the underground medieval foundations.

Visitor Tips

• Treasury museum: The Museo del Tesoro requires a separate small ticket and is well worth visiting.
• Free entry: The cathedral itself is free — modest dress required.
• Duration: 45–60 minutes including treasury.