The Church and Chapel of San Martino at Azzano

The church at Azzano gives onto an enviable panorama of the region, from the marble caves right down to the sea. The church dates back to before the year 1000, but was restructured in the 12th century and became a church in 1299, at the request of the Bishop of Luni.
The external part is built of marble, with a frame that runs around the interior of the roof and which was added in the 16th century. The jonico gallery, the rose window and the lateral aisles were also added in the same era, when Michelangelo was said to have been travelling in the region. The rose window was given the name “the eye of Michelangelo”, but unfortunately, the gallery was destroyed during the Second World War. The bell tower, with its four twin-lancet windows is also made of marble, and dates back to before the 11th century.
The interior has three naves that still boast features dating back to roman times, as do the cross-vault and the capitals decorated with zoomorphic motifs. Three 17th century marble altars ornament the spaces on either side of the pews, and the right aisle features a hexagonal inlaid ciborium dating back to the 16th century and said to be the work of Benti. The octagonal pulpit is attributed to Stagio Stagi.

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