The Hermitage of the desert road 
The Institute of the Desert was deeply rooted in the mentality of the early residents Scalzi on Italian soil, so that in their very first law made in 1599 de-dicarono four chapters to life in the hermitage, even if, at the moment where constitutions saw the light, there were only two convents in Italy for men and the congregation had not yet been formally established. The possibility of the hermit's life was enshrined as mo-ment of breath in the midst of the occupations of the study or apostolate. For this purpose every twelve houses at least one should have been structured as a hermitage.
is not known whether and how the arrival in Italy in 1608 Thomas of Jesus has influenced the genesis of this convent. Since he took everything from her new enthusiasm and missionary-ism in 1610 left for France and Flanders, is to suppose that his involvement was minimal, although in 1619, almost in a flashback, he founded the desert of Marlagne, Belgium. In any case, the guidelines about the spirit that should animate the inhabitants of the hermitage were exposed to him in spiritual Instructio-lis eorum, vitam profitentur eremiticam here.
The first concrete initiative in order to found a monastery located in an isolated place was taken in 1605. Peter of the Mother of God, commissioner general of the Discalced Carmelites Italy, exposed to Cardinal Cesare Baro-nio, who was with Pope Clement VIII in the villa at Frascati Mondragone,'s desire to have a secluded monastery, since the other three were built in the city. The cardinal suggested that he buy a place nearby, where there was a chapel dedicated to St. Silve-ter. On April 17, 1605 Peter of the Mother of God took possession of it, celebrating the first mes-sa. In fact, however, the convent was never used as a retreat in the true sense.
Subsequently, this time in order to build a real retreat, it was thought the town of Maiori, Campania, not far from Amalfi-no, on a offered by a certain Francesco Daponte. The general pre-defining whether to consider the offer at its meeting on October 6, 1606, by making the ACCEPTANCE-ing an inspection of the superior general. However, the attempt was not followed and the property was returned to the donor's decision to the general chapter of 1611.
The issue was picked up at the general chapter of 1614, it was decided immediately to the Foundation of a house hermit. The task was entrusted to the religious of the convent of Genoa. Father Angelo of Jesus and Mary George of the Marquis of Soncino Press, Milan, and in that chapter was finished three years as general definer of the Order, took the burden of bringing the project forward, especially as concerned the financing. The convent ge-Novi EUR 500 crowns for the purchase of land needed.
Offers to locate areas where the convent were not lacking: the Carmelite Be-rard Timothy, bishop of Noli, made available the Head of Noli, while other plots were offer-ing in Mason, Genoese Apennines, and in San Remo . Nevertheless, the deci-sion was taken to purchase their own. For this purpose we chose an area inland from Varazze that should have been bought by several smaller owners.
In early December of 1615 began with the community of Varazze negotiations aimed at obtaining permission to acquire the land on which to build the chapel. It was granted on 21 of the same month, on two conditions: first, that when the place ceased its function as a retreat back to the community be-Razzino, and secondly that the Senate of the Republic of Genoa, which depends Varazze-va , gave its consent. The following day, December 22, a procession left the church of Sant'Anibrogio Varazze to go to plant a cross, a sign of possession, on the ground for all'erigendo hermitage. On 31 December following the general definitional Carmelita-ni Scalzi unanimously approved the foundation.
The first purchase of land was made on February 22, 1616 by payment of 3,000 shields and gave the order to pave the site. However, the Genoese Senate was opposed to the change of ownership. The main reason was the fact that a large area would be removed from the jurisdiction of secular also feared that the site, covered with thick undergrowth, it would become a refuge for criminals. Consequently, Rono is also some outstanding donations of land that had already been made. However, after an inspection of the site made on behalf of the same Senate by Giulio Pallavicini, governor King of Savona, was granted permission to buy enough land to build an extension of The church and convent, with the proviso that the remaining land, including in the contract already drawn up by the Discalced Carmelites with some owners, remained under the direct jurisdiction of the Republic-ta, "with condi-agement, however, that these sites be purchased for any time would enjoy immunity, or switch to be sacred. " To avoid further difficulties with the Government of the Republic, for subsequent purchases was hired as a nominee Carlo Doria, Duke of Tursi.
Starting the work was given March 18, 1616. The religious works of the security guards took up residence in a cottage used as a drying of chestnuts. A week later, the day of the Annunciation, in a farmhouse ac-song, called "Scassarina", was provisionally established church, which celebrated the first mass. On 6 April, solemnly laid the first stone of the church. The Senate of the Republic of Genoa, invited to the ceremony, he named as his representative Giulio Pallavicini. Carlo Doria, Duke of Tursi, prepared a ship for the nobles and religious, from Genoa, they wanted to attend the event.
Around the feast of the Ascension-comin beneficiary to produce three hermitages, respectively re-dedicated to the Assumption, Annunciation, and to-the Nativity of Our Lord. In late August were solemnly blessed the church and the monastery had already been built. In the meantime, had continued to buy land of chestnuts in the area and had started other hermitages, dedicated respectively to St. Joseph, also called the Temptations of Our Lord, St. Francis, the Immaculate Conception Santissi-but, to our Lady of Mercy. The foun-dations were made in the form of tied, to meet with the celebration of a corresponding number of masses.
the morning of July 16, 1618, feast of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, the Carmelite general, Dominic of Jesus Mary, Arri-vo to the new shrine of Varazze. He was accompanied Agathangelos of Jesus and Mary Provincial of Liguria, and Angel of Jesus and Mary promoter of the foundation, at the time provincial of Lombardy, with several members of the Genoese nobility, among them being Charles and his wife Placidia Doria Spinola.
After visiting the building, the general heard many confessions, he sang the Mass, after which he held the inauguration speech, and finally walked in procession to the monastery itself bring the Blessed Sacrament. He wanted to stop then a few days to begin compliance hermit.
The first community, consisting of twelve singers and three lay brothers, was as superior of St. Philip James, who later became Superior General of the Congregation (1638-1641). On 22 July, before leaving the hermitage, Father Dominic you formally established the enclosure, on pain of excommunication to those who, more or subjects, introducing women within the confines of the car or allow them entry. The same punishment was threatened for the Carmelite friars, were also guests, who come out from the territory of the hermitage without the permission of his superior.
The fact that the monastery was inaugurated-to and I had begun a regular life does not mean that the building had been com-pleted. In fact, the work continued for about fifteen years before we can say definitively completed.
was missing an important detail, however. To secure the withdrawal from the convent as possible intrusion of strangers, it was decided to re-encloses the walled property. On 28 November 1633, the Discalced Carmelites asked the Senate to Genoa for permission to begin construction of the walls of the land surrounding the monastery. the Senate appointed a committee made up of Tower and Raffaele Agostino Spino-la which later succeeded: Luca Chiavari Agostino Pallavicini. After extensive consultation and subsequent visits in 1634 were taken the following decisions: the land was bought by Charles Doria Quartino by James of Varazze, could be transferred to the men of the desert, the enclosure would extend only to the land between the rivers Arrestra and Malanotte, the length of boundary wall would not exceed 12,000 due mainly-to the palms of the perimeter, two feet thick and 12 palms high. In a sign of allegiance to the Senate fathers undertook to provide an annual candle weighing one pound. They would have placed a plaque on the door with a list of conditions imposed by the Senate and marble coat of arms with the arms to the Republic and delivered to the Doge a key gateway. In 1639, obtained the license, he began the construction of the city that lasted for several years. To facilitate the work was built bridge linking the resort island with a chapel of St. Anne. The work was completed in about six years. In fact, a July 11, 1645 steady process that fathers in the construction of the walls had no employment to public land, but were left out of the perimeter wall of its own grounds.
The first legislation of the Italian Congregation of Discalced Carmelites, enacted in 1599 and in 1605, when there were no monasteries in the territories subject to it dedicated to the hermit's life, are useful to know the kind of life observed in the monasteries, which remained virtually unchanged for nearly two centuries.
The first code of law requires that a house is based hermit every twelve conventions you. Then the rule was modified-ta, ordering that every province had its own religious retreat built in a place isolated from to population centers, but not too far from another convent, which allowed to rest for the care of the sick. The community was formed by a group of stable and casual. Hermitage religious volunteers could retire for a period of not less than one year, except in special cases, for example dealing with those who had wanted to prepare for periods of preaching par-ticularly challenging. The total may not exceed thirteen brothers clerics, later increased to twenty, supported by a sufficient number of lay brothers. Not-to put access to novices, professed to young, the sick, the frail and the little inclined to spiritual practices. It was forbidden to touch each con- with strangers and all forms of apostolate, as well as maintain the correspondence of letters, except with the superior general. They must also be limited areas to cultivate, so that could be taken care of no more than two or three peasants, usually housed in residential properties with wind-and located near the entrance.
perennial feature of the car was silence, broken only by the necessary discussions with the prior, while the chapters on Sundays and during the collatio-nes, moments in which the hermits came together to deal with spiritual matters. With people outside had rela-tions only the prior, the pro-curator and porter, and this generally avve-niva at the property, in a building located in convenient same-room hermitage.
addition to the Main body of the convent, built in the church, the cells of the religious and the drop-put to use com-mon, gathered around the central cloister, the do-vevano building separate from the monastery and hermitages among them, in which the men could retire with the consent of the prior. During Advent, Lent and the time between the Ascension and Pentecost up to six reli-gious could dwell in hermitages. Here they spent their days in solitude, joining in prayer common to the stroke of the convent bell. On Sunday he went to the central building-not to participate in the conventual chapter and collatio, returning to their training camp with the supplies for the week, made exclusively from plant products.
The ideal of life in vogue at the hermits is well expressed in a letter addressed to them by the superior general Dominic of Jesus Maria, a little less than a year after the inauguration of the monastery: "Not to be ungrateful to the Divine Majesty, and being an impediment to his grace and not make us unworthy of his benefits, the wait will be great way to the holy exercise of prayer as you would expect, our party's principal institute, providing of RARs prepared to do it well, lest you try God, because even as the sin of irreverence groped God you make, so no preparation is missing in the hour of reverence to the infinite majesty with which it has to be treated. It is still waiting to put in place and tear out the result from what was thought, because so many different values \u200b\u200bto prayer intentions, but when the opportunity to fight are cowards, and forgetting the good intentions fall into imperfections. "And since, as they know, the prayer without mortification is unsafe and underperforming, wait to be humiliated every day, bringing themselves to accompany the cross Christ first and then in glory in suffering. Seek to deny their appetites and inclinations that they are asking, because those who are most deprived of the consolations of the earth, the more you able to taste the sky. 'Should accept willingly alerts and correction of higher-ni. They will never discusses the corrections higher when s'andrà recital in their person of Christ our Lord, and considered this useful ration born a prompt and simple obedience. This will be yet holy obedience buonis-th street to get to the real-rassegnazio it, compliance and absolute dependence on the will of God, which strongly the urge to be the cause of inner peace and efficiently cissimo provide you with the means to holiness and strettissi-mo of a soul connection with her Divine Spouse. "
Desert, on the ground to offer a unique environment for meditation, it became the place where several missionaries withdrew before intra-take their apostolic activities. The most prominent among them was undoubtedly Prospero of the Holy Spirit. Born in Nalda, diocese of Calahorra, in Spain, he entered the Carmelite convent in Santa Maria della Scala in Rome, issuing religious profession in 1608. After a period spent in Naples and Palermo, he asked to retire to the desert of Varazze-si, where remained from 1618 to 1620. On that date he was assigned to the mission of Isfahan, in Persia, which soon was appointed Arri-vate higher. Back in Rome in 1624 to report on the situation to-be, three years after he was sent to Syria, where he founded the mission of Aleppo. In 1631, realizing this tissue or desire from the beginning in the Italian Congregation of Discalced Carmelites, that the same-to Prospero had strokes during his stay at the Desert Varazze, Mount Caramel was able to regain and restore order at its place of origin. The rest of his life spent on the same mountain until his death in 1653. As befits
character of a hermit to a monastery, the Desert Varazze lived at the edge of the great events at the same flow in, while the development of community-should follow the pace set by the legislation. If the number of monks, at least during the seventeenth century and the first part of the eighteenth, remained stable, the properties went instead extend Dende, with subsequent purchases, a sign of prudent administration. Once you have the necessary space and isolation provisional see their livelihoods, the ownership of the Desert began to spread on neighboring land and came to understand-tivati \u200b\u200bfarms with vineyards and olive groves in the area Faie and in the neighboring towns of Alpicella and Casanova. The fathers then owned an estate near Genoa, and other land in Chiavari. Also came to share in the profits on the sale of tobacco in the city of Naples and lend money to the kings of Denmark and Poland and the Dukes of Styria. Most of the economic prosperity was reached in the eighteenth century, when the desert knew territorial expansion, estimated at about 133 hectares. However
in the health-wives do not run an adequate increase of religious life. The second eighteenth century was a difficult time for all religious orders, and the desert was no exception: in 1770 Leopold's visit of St Jerome, provincial, noted the exis-guo number of the inhabitants of the hermitage, which became more accentuated with time. In 1783 there lived only four priests. As a prelude to what was going to happen.
In 1799 there was instituted the Ligurian Republic, inspired by the ideals of the French Revolution Committee. The new body, in the context of nu-Merosi antiecclesiastici measures, ordered the confiscation of the Desert of Varazze and dispersion of its inhabitants.
During the nineteenth century were numerous changes in ownership in the desert was submitted. The first buyer was a government auction of Genoa, Ignazio Pagano, who obtained the property for the sum of 40,000 lire. How-ever, because of the preciousness timber of wood, suitable for the construction, the government put several restrictions on its use, including a ban on logging in order to make the land cultivable, the obligation to promote the cultivation of certain species and not to make cuts without the necessary permits. The sales contract covered only the land, while the convent and church were inhabited by the ancestors until 1810.
the death of Ignatius Pagano's heirs began to sell some of its properties, including the Deser-to to pay off the debts incurred by the deceased. This allowed him to regain possession of the Discalced Carmelites of the hermitage, which was buying back-to in 1818 with money borrowed from Maria Maddalena and Teresa Grimaldi. Substantial costs were to repair the monastery disability-mented by a decade. The hermit's life could still be resumed, as shown by the records of the visitation order made in 1839 by General Jerome Bada-no of the Immaculate Conception. However, what he found himself in trouble and never reached the previous prosperity was the farm.
As a sign of good vitality achieved noteworthy is the restoration of worship in the first chapel of the hermitage, which was opened in 1616 in the locality and in later times Scassarina stables. August 29, 1849 the community, with a solemn ceremony which saw the participation of the population surrounding the club returned to the cult. In the same year were carried out important work of maintenance of buildings, which involved among other things, the entire re-roofing. Sign that the prospects for the continuation of the hermit's life is presented promising.
hopes were however dashed by a new law, promulgated by the Government of the Savoy 29 May 1855 against religious communities. On 16 July of that year, the feast of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, presented themselves to government officials-if Questro and inventory the property. Risultaro 18-no buildings, various other articles, including the walls, and 23 works of art. Fathers gave to the government an annual pension of 88 pounds, allowing them to continue to occupy the convent-think. This situation of poor-ties continued for three years, until 16 July 1858, when the Carmelites were given the in-junction to free the convent within thirty days. On 18 August following the prior handed the keys to the court of Varanasi. Once again the Desert
auction went and met several owners: Giuseppe Bianchi, Giovanni Manara (1878), Paolo Manara (1903), Valentino, Willow (1912). Each left his mark there: they were built tanks for the rearing of fish, and was drawn to the road that connects to the desert town of Cogoleto; The last owner-ra during the 1915-18 wars carried out a radical cutback of the forest, which greatly impoverished.
Despite the absence of the Discalced Carmelites of the Desert was the church for the most celebrated, at least on Sundays and holidays, for the benefit of farmers. It also continued to celebrate, with participation by the population of countries, around-standing, the feast of St. Ann. The priests in charge of the cult were refunded by the various owners, and for a time the town hall in Varazze instructed priests themselves to keep a bit 'school children nearby. For two years Paul Manara Furthermore three leased the convent to a community of Trappists driven by France, who provided some emergency repairs.
within the province of Liguria Car-melitani Scalzi, ricostituitasi at the end of that very difficult period for religious institutions, the opinions about the purchase of the Desert disagreed. The scarcity of religious and financial difficulties, compounded by a lack of interest in the resumption of life as a hermit, militated against any initiative in this regard. Some attempts were made that did not get any success. It should be
Emanuele Carattino father, originally Rio Varazze, the recovery of the Desert to the Carmelites. He entered the convent in 1879, from novice set out to regain the Desert to the Order. For several years they continued its actions at the top and the collection of alms for this purpose. Its ef-zi were crowned on December 16, 1920, when Cogoleto in the palace of Mr. Pippo Biamonti, notary Ghigliazza Varazze burning the deed of sale of VAT by Valentino in favor of the Willow Biamonti, which in turn bought it for religious. After notifying the bishop of Savona recovery of the future, pa-dre Emanuel was able to celebrate Mass in the hermitage church January 10, 1921. The building
regained received the first emergency repairs it needed, after several years of neglect and the difficulties that the postwar period. More significant was tut-ever the change of use of the house. At that moment it was no longer considered the possibility of restoring the life of a hermit. But in July of 1922, the provincial superiors decided to move to the Desert College of the aspirants, who at the time was in Genoa, in the convent of St. Anna. ll seminar was little-I am under the protection of St. Joseph and October 14, with 17 children, began the lessons.
The new title of St. Joseph, who at this stage was added, and partly overlapped the old St. John the Baptist, which was originally dedicated the chapel, marks the guidance given to the house during the next sixty years. Already in 1921 he was transferred to the direction Desert Ite Joseph to the magazine, founded in 1913 in Loanhead-to the initiative of Father Emmanuel of St. Joseph in order to dif-fuse and devotion to the saint as a propaganda tool for vocations.
Later, in 1927, was started the construction of the new church, transforming it into a shrine dedicated to Saint Joseph. The initiative had to be a father, Peter Thomas Sioli of Our Lady of Mount Caramel, later Provost ge-eral Order. The designs of Luigi Ferrari was completed in three years and a major transformation that expands the capacity of local-Rono. Changed the original orientation of the church, the facade was made out, led to the opposite side of the altar, where he built a new apse occupied the surface of a part of the cloister, opened the original walls of the church, incorporating the side chapels, a sacristy and chapter room. The burial ground underlying the church was demolished in order to lower the share of the floor, thereby creating a public access to the outside through the sce-priate monographs square opposite the church, ornate staircases. On 25 June 1931 the community approved a project to build the know-ridge and the choir to the right and left respectively of the new church choir, with other local children and a lounge area for college, which, adhering these premises, was spread over the entire side of the cloister.
in 1954 made a significant speech processing, in order to provide the seminar of local essential. On the north side, on the first floor of the building, were added a dormitory, a cloakroom, toilets. However in the same period a group of boys con-sistent Arenzano settled in the new building to house the seminar minor.
The community of the Desert, a group of reli-gious of very low amounts in those years he devoted himself to the care of children and the management of the sanctuary of St. Joseph, who took his own importance in the local religious landscape. Moreover, in 50s, with the inclusion of the desert between Joachim Ramognino, even the sanctuary on Mount Regina Pacis Beigua entered the circle of religious interest. The transfer of the boys
Arenzano and the change in the general direction of vocational recruits brought in the late 60s and early 70s to a consider-able reduction of the boys present at the De-wreath. At the same time, for reasons of internal organization established by the higher provincial transfer the novitiate from Genoa to the Desert of Varazze. In the late summer of 1978 the new community, which was entrusted with the care of six novices, is in the tradition of the Desert, has now become home prayer to welcome those who wish to spend peaceful moments of rac-grasping.
The Desert Varazze is located in a natural environment of its particular importance for the morphological characteristics and climate places him among the most interesting places of Liguria. In the documents that tell the foundation of the hermitage is stressed throughout the rugged beauty of the woods and perennial streams chosen by the monks stay inside the neck-quiet and lonely here or with God
The rivers that descend from the steep gorges tumultuous the southern slope of Mount Beigua (1287) draw up a rugged landscape and rocky in part, without fear, can be compared to that of mountains much higher. The rock is green-right (ophiolites), often covered with moss. Despite being only 278 meters on sea level, the climate is cool and moist. On-winter in the night wind, down by force from the slopes of Mount Scignello, investment ste with full force the convent and it is not uncommon that manages to break or uproot even large trees. When the wind is accompanied by intense cold, the ice cover in the short area of \u200b\u200bthe large pool of the square, and if the clouds are gathering above are unleashed real snowstorms. In summer, when the whole forest is rejuvenated by a colorful foliage, you can enjoy a pleasant cool even in August. Then, when the sea air up the valley, around the desert forms a dense fog that drenches everything.
This climate has encouraged the growth of num-rose plant species, from those typical of the Mediterranean and its marine environment of the other side which normally grow at higher altitudes. One example is the pro-beech Apis mellifera the 800 meters and lush that grows up to unusual size. Other valuable tree species and altitude are atypical of oak, holm oak, ash, hazel, chestnut and walnut. The chronicles that the forest before the repurchase of the car was wonderful, composed of oaks, walnuts, quer-ce, fir and beech trees, the last programmed greed owner-mo did not hesitate to break down.
Some plants such as olive, cypress, cedar, yew, linden, black locust or acacia, mimosa ... grew up or were brought in later. In 1799, the year of the first withdrawal, a decree of the Republic of Genoa, calling on farmers to uproot the al-beri and promote the cultivation of chestnut-tion of oak, cypress, fir and beech for its arsenals.
Chestnut, along with the heather and the oak tree was the most widely used in coal, which depended on the glass industry and ironworks in the area of \u200b\u200bVoltri, as families gathered chestnuts, ordinary food the peasants of that time. Signs of this are the many dryers use stone encountered some 'anywhere in our woods.
The Austrian black pine, and fewer, and the maritime forest surrounding the island of desert creating a striking contrast between the vegetation inside and outside the Great Wall to wall. The reason for this difference is given by the fires that often destroy large areas of conifers but can not exceed the wall. A few times the fire, pushed by the wind, managed to re-entering the forest hermitage, in which case the land-no more humid and less resinous plants have always weakened the effect.
The undergrowth is rich in trees or shrubs as myrtle, heather, boxwood, butcher's broom, broom, mastic, juniper, elder, holly and laurel. They grow very well many medicinal plants such as ro-rosemary, sage, thyme, marjoram, wild-gano gold and lavender. In the meadows or along the paths created delicious strawberries and a variety of seasonal flowers, and where the spring water welling up between the stones grow lush fronds of the maidenhair fern. In this lush flora
so many animals find shelter and food, such as squirrels, foxes, wild boars, badgers, hedgehogs, moles, lizards, vole and the viper. Close to rivers, home to trout and eels, it is not uncommon find frogs, toads and salamanders.
Even the birds are numerous, nightingales, finches, wrens, robins, dancers, ca-pinere, starlings, thrushes ... fill the air with joyous trills. Top circling the half-day a couple of hawks, while the ticchet-tio of the peak and the call of the cuckoo and Hoopoe bounce from tree to tree. Rare and protected birds, you may be lucky enough to meet, are the heron, the passage in migration, and especially the bec-hunting, which nests here. At night the forest comes alive the mournful calls of the owl, the ci-top, dell'allocco and barn owls.
complemented by a countless host of insects, among which the scorpion and processionary italics. The latter is the scourge of the pines in the area and any attempt to eradicate it is so far failed. But
a scourge worse than processionary is the neglect to which is subject to most of the territory, which has fostered the growth of asphyxiating brambles, vines and ivy. Where up to forty years ago there were cultivated fields, hay meadows, olive groves and a rich undergrowth of clean domestic mushrooms and chestnuts, there is now a bleak cluster thorny branches. The disappearance of an entire generation of farmers who lived on these lands it is the main cause. A to underline this bleak abandonment are then came the ferruginous relics of our society. For those who go on foot is an ugly spectacle "enjoyable" at every turn.
In recent years, with the advent of the Regional Park of Monte Beigua, has improved the sensitivity towards the protection and preservation of these areas that have been placed in a sys-tem of areas of natural interest and the wider environmental, that starts from the Col Giovo and gets to the Turchino Pass. We hope that the increased sensitivity to the environment will lead to a return to the real and difficult campaign for restoring the splendor of the past.
The discovery of these places contribute to the building from the street that links the eras-mo with Cogoleto and Varazze. The former could be reached only on foot or by mule and long walks along the paths, now leads comfortably mind and quickly by car. Many, however, are the people who still prefer to come on foot or by mountain bike, Rere-to retrace the ancient paths into disuse. Many routes are carefully marked by the Italian Hiking Federation (FIE) or by the local branch of the Italian Alpine Club (CAI), which offer the hiker a lot of choices. Also found in libre-ment a number of publications that deal extensively in both the natural and the hiking in the area.
To give opportunities to those not familiar with the desert and wants to go for a walk one day on the trails safe, add a route has become a classic that will take you to the Desert retracing the "White Way", the ancient path used by the monks of l'Eremo-dropping to Varazze.
The Desert Varazze, like any desert Carmelite, is a rather complex va-rio, located in hidden places in the mountains and woods, all surrounded by solid walls, which, for miles, marking the boundary of the enclosure.
The parties are not the only built that make interesting this complex, but it's the same lie of the land, together with the flora and fauna, which, together with the other elements of natural and Climate, enters in the description and understanding of the com-plex of the Desert.
Inland Varazze, at the confluence of the rivers and Arrestra Malanotte on a rocky outcrop called the Island, food-height of 278 meters above sea level, stands the monastery called Desert. The area around and between the ancient walls, rising seven hermitages, ancient gatehouse, the mill and differ-ent houses and farm buildings that already appear in the prints of 1654 (or 1664) and eighteenth century.
The location of the central building was the object of particular attention in relation to the morphology of the hill, the influence of the winds, for exhibition solar and a smooth water supply. The convent is located on an insula of over 5000 m2, which was processed to obtain a level surface. The composition of the niobium-there is a quadrilateral for its longer side oriented in a north-south. Rac-close inside the cloister garden planted with vegetables. The corridor that runs along the perimeter it was offering a functional connection between the cells of the hermits and the environments of community life.
The first project, which was not realized, shows the location of the church in the center of the factory, surrounded by corridors. On the south and west sides of the cells of hermits and on the north side of the premises for a library, kitchen and dining room. Currently
church occupies the south side, the cells are placed on the long sides of the rectangular-angle (east and west) while the north side houses the local service.
The church consisted of a nave, with its front facing the cloister, and was reserved for the exclusive use of the hermits. there sub-terranean home to the burial ground of the religious. Compartment attached to the church and directly communicating with it from both sides were spaces used as a sacristy and chapter room and smaller chapels.
On the north side you developed all the environmental community and those intended for the reception of guests in one main building two-story rectangular-nity. On the ground floor, entrance from the central compartment, to the right, you go to one of the four chapels in the ages-mo was fitted. Below the chapel, two speakers preceding two adjoining rooms for the rest of the guests. To the left were the large dining area, a refettorietto, kitchen and storerooms. On the top floor of a corridor linking the various rooms with the openings facing the cloister. Que-sta provision was justified by the fact that the north side is the most exposed to cold winds in winter and little subject to insolvency tion. The rooms on the upper floor were the library, conference room-ze, the cells of the lay brothers, the stuff looks, and the drying rack. Along the long sides
the rectangle (east and west) are arranged cells of the religious. Each cell is formed on the floor of the hall has two rooms, the first of which turned into a studio and the second bedroom. In addition, the cells of the west side are entitled to the underlying compartments and used as a laboratory-gnaia, which are accessed using a special internal staircase. Between a cell and the other a garden of about 35 m2 guaranteed its independence. Each cell opens its windows onto the garden and outside the convent. Each end-strategic but remains invisible to the cell-gauge instruments. In this way, the hermit is fully insulated.
The structure provided a kind of hermitage ground occupied by the chapel for the celebration of Mass, a sacristy and a small ladder to the upper floor where the apartment was the hermit, the morphology of the land or of any funds available from the manufacturer. The locations of the various hermitages
was designed so that each building could have running water. So you hermitages were placed to take advantage of the trench of stone that, starting from the rio Malanotte, supplied water to the monastery. The seventh hermitage, located across the river Arrestra, is fed from another source of water still exists.
The Hermitage is also known as the Assumption of Our Lady of the Angels. It was founded by Marquis Giacomo Saluzzo. It is situated to the east of the convent, at the end of the island, namely, the "Lace" at sea than the facade of the church. Construction from the outset on two floors, has been greatly expanded, probably to the north. Subsequent amendments that 10 have made it habitable. The hermitage of the Annunciation
Also known as the Madonna delle Grazie. It was founded by Marcantonio Doria. It is located on the banks of the river Malanotte, north of the convent. Despite being in a state of neglect, is what comes closest to the original architectural situation Naria. We still observe the entrance hall and the stairway to the upper floor, the room for a cappella with barely visible traces of the location of the altar and a recess in the wall above it, which certainly included a painted canvas or a table, a basement with possible functions of the sacristy and perhaps a room used as a kitchen where you can see traces of a fireplace, a feed tube to the waste pipe clay. The low vaulted brick supported the upper floor which served as a dwelling hermit, consisting of a bedroom with attached toilet, as deduced from the niche and the clay pipe in the wall. The laboratory is clearly room adjacent to the rear-ing, as shown by the constituents, the slate roof primitive, now included in the brickwork. The floors been fired bricks. It remains to be clearly visible to the belfry, but private coverage in Slate. Outside the front door on the left as you look, there can shed the stone.
The hermitage of the Nativity of Our Lord was founded by Francesco Saluzzo. It is located south of the monastery, near the porter's lodge was built on two floors, has retained the internal vaults. Was doubled to accommodate the family daughters of settlers. The staircase was turned into a furnace. The bell tower is gone. The hermitage dl
St. Joseph also said the Temptations of Our Lord. It was founded by Veronica Serra. It is located upstream of the convent, on a small plateau halfway between the Fountain of Elijah and the hermitage of St. Francis. There remain only the foundations and part elevation of a wall.
The hermitage of St. Francis was founded by Bartholomew Saluzzo. E 'located upstream of the convent, next to the access road from the convent of Varazze. Originally built on one floor with gabled roof, the chapel flanked by two central premises of the lateral position. Remain the perimeter walls and partitions and the bell tower. You notice the chimney on the outside wall facing the street.
The hermitage of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary mistakenly said of St. Francis. It was founded by Gian Francesco Lomellini. E 'is-out with the north of the convent, in sunny and elevated position which overlooks the valley and is achieved by looking the sea. The construc-tion is on two floors, with floor areas less than the first floor because of the slope of the hill. In 1951 it was converted at the expense of Musso Archbishop of Genoa and as a result do, however many of its original. Keep the bell tower.
The hermitage of Our Lady of Mercy was founded by Nicholas Doria. It is located west of the convent, only to the side of the stream Arrestra. Originally one floor, the walls are plant-ret tangolare and the bell tower in good condition. Entering right you can see remains of the chimney.
dl boundary walls built since 1636 at the expense of the religious community with the help of number-one donors, measured 3448 meters in length by 0.50 za-wide and 2.5 high. Reach the maximum altitude of 650 meters above sea level city is almost intact, except for some landslide on the western side in the area between rio and rio Colombotti Desert. Ownership of the monastery was extended three feet beyond the perimeter against walls, in order to facilitate maintenance. At regular intervals, you see men in stone, probably used for the measurement of the wall. They are interrupted in correspondence of trails and waterways. In addition to the main entrance, along the walls there are three other Revenue: two on the side of Malanotte be reached today percorren-do the corresponding paths, is the third side just above dell'Arrestra Cian Grande. She
The source of access along a hillside road lined with cypress trees on the left side dell'Arrestra. There is a spring gushing from a niche surrounded by seats. It was used by hermits as a gathering place for collationes. The old print of the hermitage (1654) indicate the source of Elijah not in place today, but from another source that fountain of fir trees, now gone, which was located east of the monastery on the road that leads from the square towards the river Malanotte. Probably the fathers, at least until the year which was recorded in the press, were used to gather at the latter source, and only later opted for the current system. The reason which led them to this decision is clear: the fountain of fir trees, as well as being too close to the convent, was located in a gray area very cold during winter, while the present site, on the side of the MRA- left, is in a much more warm, sunny and panoramic.
The main entrance to the complex of the Deser-to was located at the confluence of the river with the stream Malanotte Arrestra. The fathers did you build two bridges, one on each river. From here, saliva, past the romi-tory of the Nativity, the way to the convent, which in part followed the route today, flanked by rows of cypresses.
at the two bridges there was the building's concierge, with the ground floor of the chapel dedicated to St. Anne, when farmers could not attend Mass, since it was out of the enclosure. Upstairs there was the porter father from the living areas.
The present building, which retains substantially the original lines, showed significant changes due to a recent restructuring. Remain visible inside the pavilion and outside the lunettes of the Chapel bell-nile sailing.
front of the lodge, just before the bridge, stands the mill water. On the front is a large painted emblem of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He continued to re-work until the early years of World War II. As for equipment, are only the large metal water wheel and the channel of water extraction.
Mrs. Livia Balbi-Pallavicini, great benefactor of the Desert, commissioned Domenico Fiasella - said Sarzana - a painting of a legendary episode in the life of Jesus dario, namely the visit of the Holy Family, on his return from Egypt , St. John the Baptist in the desert. The artist has volume-to depict the moment when the two cousins \u200b\u200bembrace under the gaze of the Madonna, while St. Joseph binds ass to a tree The "holy pastors" that gives the title to the work ~ Mary Most Holy, in whose figure seems to represent the Fiasella wanted to commit the authority of the framework, Livia Balbi-Pallavicini. According to V.
Belloni referred to as the Madonna was born, "pastor" perhaps from the shape of the hat used by the pastors at the time of the painter. The oil painting, measuring cm. 284 x 200, was placed inside a fake wooden architecture over the altar, also of wood. Above the tympanum was interrupted in the middle to make room for the marble statue of St. John the Baptist. Today the painting can be seen in the church of the Desert, which serves as the altar piece.
In March 1641 the pirates in one of their raids, they captured a Portuguese knight, whose name is unknown but is thought to be a Jesuit priest from India and then taken by the Turks. He had bought in Goa, India, an ivory crucifix, and wanted to take him home. The arrest prevented him and the sacred image fell to Moslems, and was exhibited in the streets of Algiers, where the crucifix suffered a second statue in his Mar-tirio: was the object of insults, curses and Deri-sions, and daggers, which are still visible follow. Then a miracle happened that deeply impressed the minds of Muslims: the presence of hundreds of per-sons appeared on the crucifix of the drops of blood that gushed from his face, hands, the side wound and scratches from knives product of the infidels. All these events had witnessed his father Michelangelo of Jesus, Discalced Carmelite missionary, he also captured in Algiers, who pro-poses to buy the sacred image, which now is said to have passed into the hands of a merchant jew. Once father Michael was able to buy the crucifix exposed him to the veneration of Christian prisoners. When Michelangelo
father was released in 1643, he brought the crucifix in Italy and donated to Father Paul Simon of Jesus Maria, then Provost General Order. These, of Genoese origin, appointed Father Alexis of St. Anthony of transporting the precious public image to the Desert of Varazze.
The crucifix is \u200b\u200bdated around the early seventeenth century and is converted by an Indian artist, who has managed to associate the new Christian values \u200b\u200bwith those of Hindus and merge them into one ideal connection, religious and figurative. The sculpture, called indoportoghese was care-ta to the smallest detail and worked to perfec-tion even on the back.
Currently the ivory crucifix is \u200b\u200bdisplayed in a chapel specially co-STRU, which can be accessed through the church
Desert.
Around at the hermitage leads a fascinating tour botanical ring of extraordinary natural value that extends for nearly 2 km and a half. The natural value lies in the possibility of crossing in a short time a wide range of environments are extremely diversified.
This is partly due to the climate of the area, which allow the coexistence of species typical Mediterranean trees alongside typical of mountain forests, among which are included many species of ornamental and outside Europe testimony of numerous environmental changes caused by the presence of the `secular man. The course is accompanied by a series of panels illustrating the major environmental types that can be and observe the numerous plant species.
