Divo Martino Oratory
The yellow façade of the Divo Martino Oratory appears at the top of a steep stone pathway off Piazza Martiri dell'Olivetta, a climb that most visitors to Portofino never quite make. That is their loss. Step through the bronze doors and the rough exterior gives way to a three-nave interior of decorated ceilings and thick pillars, where a carved wooden Deposition of Christ by the Genoese sculptor Anton Maria Maragliano holds the room.
Behind the church, a small cemetery sits quietly above the harbour. The ascent alone earns you views down over the water that the waterfront crowds never see from this angle.
💛 What travellers fall for
People who make the climb twice tend to time it around a Sunday morning mass — the 11:15 service (April through mid-August) fills the nave with locals rather than tourists. The walk up Salita della Chiesa is short but genuinely steep; the rose window in the façade catches the light better on the way back down, when you're facing it.
The story behind Divo Martino Oratory
A chapel stood near Portofino's quay long before the current building; by 986 it had been rebuilt on higher ground and dedicated to Martin of Tours. A papal document of 1130 records Pope Innocent II ceding the property to the monks of the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, a relationship confirmed in 1164 by Pope Alexander III. The church was formally consecrated on June 10, 1548.
Ownership shifted again on March 8, 1550, when Pope Julius III transferred it by papal bull to Prince Andrea Doria and his heirs. The building's present appearance dates from a late 19th-century reworking, though the bones of its Lombard Romanesque origins survive in the stonework. The bell tower was restored in 2019, and an exhibition room opened in 2022.
Good to know
Portofino's centre is pedestrian-only. From the main piazza, the walk up takes 10–15 minutes on stone steps — wear shoes with grip. No admission fee; donations are welcome. Mass times run April 19 to August 14 (Saturday 18:30, Sunday 11:15). Plan 20–30 minutes inside.
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What travellers say about Divo Martino Oratory
Gorgeous church that sits on top of a hill. Be careful of the traffic and cars going up. Use the stairs to avoid cars. The church is filled with ceiling art and there a a gorgeous organ in the back. This church was built in 12th century based on my research and it is meticulously maintained. There are sculptures as well as beautiful stained glass.
When you travel a lot you just need a little time to speak with Got-this is the place!
A really beautiful medieval church. It is a bit of a climb here, but it is definitely worth the while.
Maybe the only thing actually worth seeing in Portofino. Extremely detailed church with beautiful paintings and sculptures
there we are again on that little town street You almost ran the red 'cause you were lookin' over at me Wind in my hair, I was there
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