Oratorio Mortis et Orationis - Confraternita dei Neri — Attraction in Monterosso al Mare

📍 Oratorio Mortis et Orationis – Monterosso al Mare, Italy 🇮🇹 A small Baroque oratory ⛪ with a striking black-and-white striped façade and skull motifs 💀 that set it apart in Monterosso’s old town. Inside, the decorations continue with skeletons, frescoes 🎨, and symbols of mortality, reflecting the Brotherhood of the Neri’s mission of prayer and burial. Though modest in size, the atmosphere is unique—solemn, reflective, and unlike the typical churches in Cinque Terre. A hidden gem worth a quick stop while exploring...

This is an interesting stop we stumbled upon while in Monterosso al Mare. I was super intrigued by the skulls & skeletons. I was curious what it all meant & what the words translated to. I took pictures of the unusual decorations with the intention of looking it up later to find out what this place was all about. It turns out it's the Brotherhood of Death & Prayer. They provided burial services for the less fortunate and to look over the souls of the dead. Very interesting, definitely worth...

At first sight, we were striked by the unusual decorations of bones and skulls. The oratorio (aka Oratorio di Santa Maria di Porto Salvo) is part of the San Giovanni Chiesa (St. John the Baptist Church) and was built during the 17th century in baroque style following the Black and White stripe architecture of the St. John the Baptist Church nearby. The skeletons (made of stucco material) actually symbolize the ephemeral...