Cathedral of San Lorenzo
On Gingerguide's self-guided Genoa audio tour, Cathedral of San Lorenzo is a stop worth about ~45 min. Stand in front of it, press play for a short narrated story, and put any follow-up question to the built-in AI guide.
- Type religious
- Suggested visit ~45 min
- Genoa Genoa guide
About Cathedral of San Lorenzo
Genoa's magnificent Romanesque-Gothic cathedral with its striking black and white striped marble facade, and the extraordinary exhibit of an intact British naval shell that failed to explode in WWII.
The Cathedral of San Lorenzo is the most important church in Genoa, a magnificent medieval building dating from the twelfth century with a distinctive black-and-white striped marble facade that is one of the most recognisable sights in the city. The original church was consecrated in 1118, and construction continued throughout the medieval period, resulting in a fascinating blend of Romanesque and Gothic styles. The three portals of the main facade are carved with elaborate relief sculptures depicting scenes from the life of St Lawrence and the Last Judgment. The interior contains important artworks including the Cappella di San Giovanni Battista, a Renaissance masterpiece housing the relics of St John the Baptist. The cathedral treasury contains one of the most extraordinary reliquary collections in Italy. But perhaps the most astonishing exhibit in the cathedral is a British naval artillery shell, an unexploded 38cm shell fired by HMS Malaya during the Allied bombardment of Genoa in February 1941, that penetrated the cathedral walls, rolled through the nave, and failed to explode. The shell is on display in the cathedral, a surreal reminder of the city's wartime survival.
Did you know? The British shell in the cathedral was fired by HMS Malaya, a 27,500-ton Queen Elizabeth-class battleship, one of the most powerful warships in the Royal Navy at the time.
How much time do you need at Cathedral of San Lorenzo?
Around ~45 min works well for Cathedral of San Lorenzo — time to look properly and listen to its story on the spot. Linger if you like; nothing on a self-guided walk is on a clock.
Should you stop at Cathedral of San Lorenzo?
Yes — Cathedral of San Lorenzo made the cut as one of 18 places the Gingerguide team researched and narrated across Genoa. The story tells you why it is worth the stop, and the AI guide fills in anything you still wonder.
Nearby stops in Genoa
Hear the story of Cathedral of San Lorenzo
Preview the Genoa tour free in the Gingerguide app.