Andiamo! | Citalia Magazine Autumn 2021

Christ Of The Abyss
San Fruttuoso is a strange little place. Tucked between the towns
of Camogli and Portofino, it’s neither a port or a town. It’s also very
secluded, as it’s only accessible by foot or from the sea. Yet it’s wellworth
visiting because, etched out of the mountains, San Fruttuoso is
home to an ancient Benedictine monastery.
What’s more, just off the shore you’ll find a highly unusual sight: a statue
of Jesus Christ rising two and a half metres tall and praising the heavens
while under the blue of the Mediterrean Sea.
While you may think the statue appeared as a result of a tragic shipwreck
many centuries ago, in fact it was intentionally submerged here in 1954.
Sitting 17 metres under the waves, the statue, known as Cristo degli Abissi
(Christ of the Abyss) was cemented to the sea floor.
Castello Brown Museum | Portofino
Perched high over the harbour of Portofino lies Castello Brown, a historic
castle that dates back centuries and has had several reconstructions and
enlargements over time.
Surrounded by prestigious villas of the international jetset, the castle is
ideally placed to observe all the activities below, both on land and water.
Archaeological digs concluded that this eagle-eye site has
been used as a military bulwark since the Roman times.
This spiritual statue was the brainchild of legendary Italian diver Duilio
Marcante, before being created by the sculptor Guido Galetti. It pays
homage to Dario Gonzatti, the first Italian to use scuba diving gear, who
died during a dive near this spot in 1950.
The statue was crafted from the recycled bronze of medals, naval
artefacts, and old bells. In 2003, it was lovingly restored and returned to
the waters two years later.
Castello Brown was abandoned in the early 19th century when Portofino
fell into a more peaceful state. It gets its rather un-Italian name from
the British diplomat who sympathetically remodelled the castle into a
comfortable private villa. It was subsequently held by his descendants
until 1949.
Castello Brown was further restored to its original design and historically
mapped by an English couple, before being sold to the city of Portofino
in 1969.
The castle claimed fame as the setting for the 1922 novel by Elizabeth
von Arnim and subsequent award-winning 1991 film, The Enchanted April.
Today, Castello Brown is a public museum and decadent events
space that brings its rich history to life, from its neo-Gothic tiled
staircase to its wooden coffered roof depicting martyrs and rulers.
It's also surrounded by a marvellous Mediterraean garden filled with
fragrant flowers and pergolas.
Since its installation, the Christ of the Abyss is a symbol for
scuba diving and has become Italy’s leading dive destination,
not least because it also happens to be a Protected
Marine Area with a vast array of marine life.
Other copycats have cropped up in other Italian waters, and you’ll find
replicas that were created from the original clay cast in the Carribean and
in Florida.
On the last Sunday of every July, a torchlight mass is held on the beach to
commemorate all those who have lost their lives at sea, and divers place
crowns of flowers at the feet of the underwater Christ.
Even if you don’t dive, when the waters are calm and clear, it’s possible to
peek at the statue through the water from a boat.
A 7 night holiday in Liguria, staying at Grand Hotel Bristol Resort and Spa, starts from £1,059 per person.
Speak to one of our Personal Travel Planners on 01293 765061
Summer/Autumn 2021
Andiamo!