Guided tours start from the Crypt, which is the oldest part of the building;
from here visitors go up to the gardens and enter the Chapter House with its stunning 15th century ceiling, which has become La Cervara’s “symbol”. Next is the 16th century Cloister, with the Saracen Tower and the Abbey’s foundation stone, followed by the evocative Church of Saint Jerome, the Emperor Gallery and the Tapestry Staircase. The visit continues in the Gardenia Garden, with its floral pillars and bougainvillea, followed by the Belvedere Terrace, which faces the sea on the Italian Garden, and the Portofino Terrace, where the king of France Francis I was held prisoner.The last stop is the magnificent Wisteria Courtyard.