Fortresses of Sant’Anna
Above the artificial tunnel of the Via Aurelia that connects Cavi Borgo with Sestri Levante, on a flat hill overlooking the cliff, there are the evocative ruins of a chapel built between the 13th and 16th centuries. This religious building stands on a place of worship from a certainly more ancient era, one of the most panoramic points of Tigullio.
A Chapel with Ancient Roots
The origin of the site probably dates back to the beginning of Christianity, with a small votive shrine already in the 5th century. Before the 13th century, a trapezoidal tower was erected, followed by the construction of the church hall between the 13th and 14th centuries and an extension in the 16th century. The first written document mentioning the church dates back to 1506. In 1516, a notarial deed by the notary Vincenzo Molfino mentions the chapel of Sant’Anna, built thanks to the donations of some noblewomen of the Musso, Oxio and Morinello families. The church continued to be maintained until 1728, but deterioration caused by the elements led to its abandonment in 1757. By 1810, with the construction of the Napoleonic coastal road, the church was finally closed and by 1820 it had already collapsed.
Legends Imbued with Charm
Alongside documented history, the site of the Rocche di Sant’Anna is enriched by numerous legends. One of these tells of a knight from Provence who, in 1300, distracted by the beauty of the panorama, fell into the cliff. He miraculously survived thanks to a prayer to Saint Anna, and out of gratitude he had the little church built.
The Tragic Story of Anna
The most popular legend tells the sad story of Anna, eldest daughter of a count of Lavagna, who every day galloped along the Roman road to the edge of the precipice of the Rocche, anxiously waiting for her beloved Ubaldo, who was engaged in war. Anna scanned the sea, imagining the victorious return of her beloved or fearing him mortally wounded. One day, desperate due to the long wait, she threw herself into the raging sea, finding her death. Years later, Ubaldo returned victorious, only to find a cross and a cold stone in memory of his beloved. In silence, a tear fell on Ubaldo’s face, wetting the plaque on which the little church of Sant’Anna was built, to commemorate the sorrows of the girl in love.
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