Santa Maria al Monte

The origin of the original recipe for the 'Lissire Miracoloso Santa Maria' handed down within the convent of Santa Maria al Monte is lost in the centuries of time. In 1858, the fathers of this convent in Genoa's San Fruttuoso district donated the parchment on which the bitter's formula was written to the eclectic Vincenzo Castrovillari, who improved this 'elixir' thanks to his herbalist knowledge by adding Alpine herbs.

The success of his bitter was immediate, so much so that in 1892 Vincenzo Castrovillari was awarded the honorary title of purveyor of the House of His Royal Highness Prince Emanuele Filiberto of Savoy for his Santa Maria al Monte bitter. After almost two centuries, this bitter is still recognised as an exceptional digestive and has also become a popular base for modern cocktails.