Just off the Abbey of San Fruttuoso, there is something many divers come here to see.
On the seabed, about seventeen metres below the surface, stands the Christ of the Abyss.
It is a fairly simple dive, but it should only be done with experienced and authorised guides working inside the Portofino Marine Protected Area.
The bronze statue is about two and a half metres tall. Christ is shown with his arms raised and open towards the light, as if in prayer.
This is not a statue that ended up underwater by chance. It was made to be placed on the seabed.
The project was strongly supported by Duilio Marcante, one of the pioneers of Italian diving. He wanted it as a tribute to his friend Dario Gonzatti, who died during a dive in 1947.The statue was sculpted by Guido Galletti and lowered into the bay in 1954.Since then, it has stood as a memorial to those who lost their lives at sea. For many people, it is also a sign of protection for everyone who lives and works on the water.Bringing it down to this depth required the help of the Italian Navy, the Genoa branch of the Italian Sports Centre, and a team of volunteer divers.
And you do not have to dive to see it. Inside the abbey, you will find a replica.If you love diving, you may also come across it far from Liguria. Faithful copies of the statue can be found in Florida and off St George’s in Grenada, in the Caribbean.Closer to home, there are other underwater statues of Christ off the Italian coast too, in Sardinia, Salento, the Tremiti Islands, Sicily and other places.Still, the Christ of the Abyss at San Fruttuoso remains the best known. Silent below the surface, in front of a place of prayer, it gives this bay a strong sense of devotion.