Pope Pius VII's Apartment

Between August 1809 and June 1812, the pope was imprisoned by Napoleon in Savona, where he got an enthusiastic welcome. Once set free, the pope thanked the city and his faithful by crowning Our Lady of Mercy, patron saint of Savona – in her Shrine. Immediately thereafter, he was assigned a few rooms in the residence of Bishop Vincenzo Maria Maggioli, who moved into the Seminary.

Pius VII’s rooms overlooked the internal cloister to prevent any contact with the outside world. His few rooms were hurriedly rearranged according to the style of the day. More specifically, they included the throne room, the pope’s bedroom, a room for official meetings, one for the servants and a multipurpose room where the pope ate, celebrated Mass, and spent most of the time.

The pope was held captive in his ‘Savona prison’ for almost three years. Then, in the night between 9 and 10 June, he was ordered to leave immediately for Fontainebleau, France, where he remained prisoner until 1814, when he was released and returned to Rome. The visit to his rooms is a journey through history, thanks also to the impressive original furniture, kept to this day in its original place. All the rooms of the apartment are now a museum and can be visited upon reservation.