At the top of the "montata"

The Church of St. Francis of Albaro in Genova stands at the highest point of the ancient “montata,” the path that ascended from the Bisagno plain towards the Albaro hill. Its position places it at the center of an area that, from the 16th century, formed a parish encompassing several historic churches.

The complex layering of interventions makes it difficult to reconstruct a precise history of its construction. Ancient inscriptions document its foundation in the 14th century and the renovations of the 15th century, while information about the earlier and later phases, which led to the current appearance (defined between the 17th and 19th centuries), is scarcer. The land for the church and the adjacent convent was donated to the Conventual Franciscans in 1307 by Clement V, who authorized the transfer of their headquarters from San Giuliano.

The construction, begun in 1324 at the behest of Lanfranco Cebà (as testified by the plaque on the portal), was initially dedicated to St. Michael and later took on the title of St. Francis. In 1426, the Grimaldi-Cebà family restored the choir and main altar, while Giustiniani adorned the pulpit in 1440. Two plaques from 1476 document not only these interventions but also a complete refurbishment of the roof, flooring, and perimeter walls. Subsequent works are documented for 1559 (apse reconstruction) and following the apostolic visits of 1582 and 1630. In 1600, the chapel at the head of the right nave was completed, while the decorative work by Galeotti in 1754 was limited to the opening of two windows in the choir to illuminate the apse.