The origins of the Benedictine community of the monastery of Santa Maria del Mare are recent, back to the years ' 50, when the Bishop of the Diocese of La Spezia, Joseph Stella, following the desire of the servant of God "Itala Apple," asked one of the Benedictine monasteries of Bergamo to send a group of nuns to a new Foundation. Available to receive them was an old oratory built at the ancient Church of Marinasco, which became a small but lovely monastery. The failure of this first attempt did not stop the Holy Bishop who felt heart dying echo in Itala's last words: "How sad to die outside a monastery!" and Providence used father Mario Garcia, who got in touch with the Abbess of the monastery of Rosano, Mother Immaculate Mary Felix. On 20 March 1963 Bishop speaks with the Abbess of Rains and the 13 November 1966 the solemn opening of the small monastery called Monastery of St. Mary of the sea. Over the years, the space became inadequate, unable to accommodate a life gushing of initiatives and wishes that appeared only dreams. Mother Beatrice, who certainly did not let himself be easily overcome by difficulties, with his resourcefulness he thought, trusting in God's help, to transfer the community in new surroundings are comfortable with. The Lord opened the doors of Providence and suddenly made it possible to build a monastery on the Hill of Castellazzo, a few kilometers away, where the community has established in June 2000. The monastery of Santa Maria del Mar is open to guests according to the Benedictine tradition. That is to say to those who want a fascinating place and a monastic community that, through liturgical prayer, community and personal individual or shared reflection, silence, kind of the word of God and the rich Catholic tradition, can offer help for a physical and spiritual refreshment. There is a conference room and a dining room. During the day you can always access the chapel. The monastery, in people in this charge and within the limits of his actual ability, will try to accommodate reasonable needs and particular individual guests and/or groups. The guest, for its part, with the discreet demeanor, decorum in dress and speech, monsters to be aware and respect the holy place where it is located.