Photo of the Day – San Fruttuoso, Italy
The seashore monastery of San Fruttuoso, Italy
No roads lead to this secluded Italian cove. In fact, the nearest parking is more than an hour away in Portofino. But if you’re willing to hike or catch a boat from Camogli or Santa Margherita, you can spend the day at this picturesque beach that is neither port nor resort. But what this sandy spot lacks in facilities, it makes up for with two worthy attractions. The first is an ancient Benedictine monastery, the other the Christ of the Abyss. The monastery holds the burial vaults of the aristocratic Doria family of Genoa. Before nature decided to add a beach to this mountainous coastline, boats moored directly under the monastery’s supporting arches. The Christ of the Abyss takes a little more work to reach. It’s a larger-than-life-size bronze statue situated a little offshore and 50ft under the sea that has become somewhat of a shrine for divers. In clear waters it’s possible to see Christ’s outstretched arms raised toward the source of light from a glass-bottom boat, but for those who wish to stay on dry land there’s a replica in the church next to the monastery.
