A visitor with a special interest in religion could easily spend a week or more exploring the Cinque Terre's many Catholic churches, oratories, sanctuaries, cemeteries, and shrines. (An oratory—from the Latin orare, to pray—is a sort of chapel associated with a confraternity. Confraternities arose during the Counter-Reformation, and were essentially religious/civic organisations dedicated to good works.) We made no special effort to visit spiritual sites, but did collect a few photos along the way, presented here.
Saturday-evening services at Chiesa di Sant' Andrea. Fegina, Monterosso.
Chiesa di Santa Margherita di Antiochia. If it looks familiar, that's because it's already appeared in several photos from Vernazza. Can we help that it's both ridiculously photogenic and prominently located? Built in 1318.
If you're going to tag a church, you might as well stay on-topic. This is from the foundation of Santa Margherita, down by the harbour.
Oratorio di Santa Caterina. Largo Taragio, Corniglia. Eighteenth century—practically brand-new!
Oratorio dei Neri (Oratory of the Blacks). Centro Storico, Monterosso. Sixteenth century. There were two confraternities in Monterosso, known as the Whites and the Blacks. The Blacks arranged for funerals, cared for widows and orphans, and prayed for lost souls. Their symbol is appropriate to their focus on end-of-life care: a skull-and-crossbones combined with an hourglass. Memento mori.
Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista. Centro Storico, Monterosso. The second church built in Monterosso, circa 1307, and decidedly Gothic in design.
Marvin at the tiny Capella di Santa Marta, in Vernazza. Peace indeed, mate.
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