The Church of San Pietro in Carpignano, located in the municipality of Quiliano (SV), is a place of Catholic worship of great historical and archaeological significance. Included in the Archaeological Nature Park of the same name, established in 2010, the church represents a landmark for understanding how the first settlements
arose in the Ligurian territory.
Documents attest to its origin in 1180, but recent excavations have testified that, under its foundations, there are remains of a proto-Romanesque construction.
The Romans had glimpsed the strategic potential of the territory of Quiliano and San Pietro in Carpignano.
From there passed the ancient consular road Aemilia Scauri, which connected Alexandria with today’s Savona territory.
The original appearance of the building, with a single nave and semicircular apse facing south, remained unchanged until the 17th century.
The present building, on the other hand, with a single nave and semicircular apse facing south, is the result of several construction phases and renovations. Originally facing east, the church suffered a collapse in 1654 that led to a reduction in size and a rotation of orientation.
A first restoration of the church took place in 1710 at the behest of Mrs. Annamaria Gavotta. For centuries San Pietro in Carpignano fell somewhat into oblivion, but in 1956 there were the first excavations, by B.Ugo, which brought to light important findings.
In 1977 the first major restoration work began on the entire complex, but concentrating especially on the brick bell tower and the arched doorway. But it was in 2023 that the great discovery occurred, namely the presence of a productive rustic Roman building that later became largely a cemetery enclosure.
The surrounding park provides a valuable natural and scenic setting with green spaces, shaded areas, and a picnic area.
