There are many historical and architectural gems that can be reached within minutes from the berths of our central marina in Genoa: on the pages of our blog, we have already presented some, knowing that among the duties of a good city marina should always be to present the territory to sailors, not just to provide mooring spaces. Undoubtedly, among the main attractions in the immediate vicinity of the port of Genoa is the historic Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè, a Romanesque sacred complex located between our dock and the Genoa Principe railway station.
Those looking for something different to visit and discover in Genoa can find many interesting stimuli in the Commenda: let’s see what there is to see in this rich architectural complex.
What is the Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè in Genoa, in brief
Driven by the many things to see in the city, it often happens that the same sailors mooring in our berths in Genoa pass by the Commenda without realizing they are in front of a medieval treasure, thus quickly glancing over its famous arches. Before exploring the history of the Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè, it is therefore good to quickly explain how this complex of buildings is composed.
Behind the facade with the two series of arches, we find a three-story building, and – a completely peculiar feature – two superimposed churches. Currently, the Commenda hosts the MEI, the National Museum of Italian Emigration, an exhibition that has found its ideal space near the Port of Genoa, long a departure point for migrants seeking fortune.
The history of the Commenda in Genoa
Understanding the particular name of this architectural complex is very useful for grasping its historical significance. The term ‘commenda’ generally indicates the assignment of an ecclesiastical benefit to a person, whether a priest or a layperson; the reference to meadows (in Genoese prè) refers to the rural origin of this area, once adjacent to the city walls and indeed surrounded by fields. Right here, in this agricultural village near the port of Genoa, the religious military order of the Knights Hospitaller built at the end of the 12th century a hospital-hostel (then referred to as ‘hospitale’) intended to provide shelter to pilgrims, merchants, travelers, and obviously knights in transit in Genoa to reach the Holy Land.
As a sacred building, the care of guests at the Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè was meant to be both for the body and the soul: it should therefore not be surprising the continuity between beds for pilgrims and the naves of the religious spaces.
What to see at the Commenda
The arches of the Commenda di San Giovanni di Prè witnessed for decades the flows of migrants heading towards the port of Genoa, ready to embark for the Americas: those stories are now told in the MEI National Museum of Italian Emigration, which uses the three floors of the complex to recount the many Italian migrations, through photographs, diaries, and letters.
All around the exhibition is, of course, the excellently preserved architecture of the medieval building. Consider the basilica of San Giovanni Evangelista, or the upper church, made unique by the black stone of Promontorio and the many frescoes; but also the bright naves of the lower church, where pilgrims in transit in Liguria once gathered.
You never stop discovering the beauties of the Superb: we await you at our marina in Genoa to lose yourself once again among alleys, squares, and ancient palaces!
(Image credits: VisitGenoa.it)