The Village,
a place where art, history and taste meet.
Gavi is a village that speaks of centuries of encounters and influences: a land of passage for merchants and pilgrims, a crossroads between Liguria and Piedmont, it has always been a custodian of traditions, art, and flavors.
In the heart of the historic center stands the parish church of San Giacomo Maggiore, a Romanesque monument that testifies to the spiritual and cultural importance of this place since the 12th century.
And it is precisely in this setting that the Restaurant is located
The Borgo, where medieval charm blends with traditional flavors and genuine hospitality.
The facade
The parish church of San Giacomo Maggiore, built around the mid-12th century and first mentioned in 1172, features a solemn façade in local sandstone.
The Romanesque layout is simple and harmonious, designed to convey strength and stability to the community. The façade retains the austere charm of its medieval origins, making it one of the most recognizable symbols of the village of Gavi.
The Portal
The most valuable element of the façade is the Romanesque portal, built at the end of the 12th century by Lombard-Ligurian craftsmen.
The splayed structure with small columns and capitals leads the gaze towards the lunette, where the famous relief of the Last Supper, attributed to Magister Albertus, stands out.
This bas-relief, unique in the panorama of Piedmontese Romanesque art, shows simple yet intense figures, capable of still communicating the emotion of the sacred moment today.
The architrave
Above the portal is an architrave carved with evocative symbolic motifs. At the center is the dove of the Holy Spirit, flanked by angels, symbolizing divine protection for the Gavi community.
Although marked by time and restoration, the architrave bears witness to the high artistic level achieved by the masters who created the work, blending Lombard, Burgundian, and Ligurian influences into a single language.
The cloister, the restaurant's historic setting
The church of San Giacomo Maggiore has a centuries-old portico with segmental arches on its south side.
The simple lines of the Tuscan pillars recall the purity of the Romanesque, while the stone walls narrate the stratification of eras and restorations.
This portico opens onto a secluded courtyard that now houses the outdoor space of the Il Borgo restaurant: the tables are set near the ancient arches, in a setting that combines architectural simplicity with the warmth of conviviality.
