Albin Q.
Google
I highly recommend visiting the church. Admission is free, and the sanctuary is open daily.
A small chapel (chapella) dedicated to Mary Magdalene already existed on the site of the present church before the 12th century. The first mention comes from the Genoese chronicler Caffaro, who mentions the chapel in connection with the fire of 1140.
This chapel depended on the chapter house of the Cathedral of San Lorenzo. Pope Eugene III confirmed this dependency in a papal bull of 1150.
In 1572, the church was elevated to the status of a parish. More precisely, it was then entrusted to the Theatines.
In 1576, the parish was entrusted to the Somaschi monks. It was their work that contributed to most of the interior renovation and decoration.
The church's current form dates mainly from the late 16th century—the design and construction supervision are attributed to Andrea Ceresoli, known as "Vannone."
Facade: The church has a portico (vestibule) in front of the main entrance, supported by marble columns.
The façade is decorated with Baroque elements and includes a tympanum section with a rosone (rosary window), and a balcony or balustrade with a decorative upper section, including niches with sculptures of Saint Mary Magdalene and Saint George Emilian.
The portico was built in 1589.
The interior is rich in frescoes, stucco decorations, and gilding.
One of the main works is the "Gloria di Santa Maria Maddalena," a fresco painted in the dome (crosiera/cupola) by Sebastiano Galeotti (c. 1729-1730), in collaboration with set designer Francesco Maria Costa. This painting occupies the central part of the vault.
The interior also contains the "Madonna of Loreto" Chapel. The chapel's decorations were created by Domenico Parodi and embellished with architectural elements by Tommaso Aldrovandini (a quadraturist), giving it a theatrical spatial effect.
The church is located in the La Maddalena district, the historic center of Genoa. It is from this church that the Maddalena district takes its name.
It was once outside the city walls, but after the construction of the Barbarossa Walls (around 1155-1160), it became part of the urban area.
For centuries, the church functioned as an important parish and civic center – a place of prayer, religious ceremonies, and a part of the district's social life.
