When you feel prisoners of daily frenzy and urban chaos, remember thatItaly is dotted with hermitages, convents and monasteries where you can take refuge for a spiritual retreat, as well as an artistic and cultural one. Those once inaccessible sacred places now open their doors to any pilgrim who wants to spend a few hours or a few days in peace and tranquillity, immersed in infinite silences and sublime landscapes from which to enjoy superb views.
As you disconnect from a constantly online life, the pace slows down and you find an unexpected inner stillness. But don't expect to spend entire days following the Benedictine rule of ora et labora, the monasteries are treasure troves of artistic, cultural and natural treasures worth the trip. Follow us on an itinerary from the north to the south of the boot in search of these secret oases of peace.
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Monasteries in Italy where to sleep
Sanctuary of Oropa, Biella
The Sanctuary of Oropa is the most important Marian shrine in the Alps, immersed in nature at an altitude of 1,200 metres, but only 20 minutes from the centre of Biella. The monumental complex, probably built in the 4th century by St Eusebius, the first bishop of Vercelli, is spread over three terraced squares. The heart of the sanctuary is the ancient basilica, dating back to the 17th century, where the Black Madonna is kept. The complex as we see it today, however, is the work of the greatest Savoy architects such as Filippo Juvarra, Guarino Guarini and Filippo Beltrame among others. West of the sanctuary is the Sacro Monte, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where twelve chapels dedicated to the life of the Virgin were built between the 17th and 18th centuries. According to the models of the sacred representations of medieval tradition, therefore, the mountain is the great natural theatre where the experience of faith mediated by architecture, painting and sculpture is represented.
If you want to take part in the journey of faith in this sacred amphitheatre among the mountains, book one of the 300 rooms of the sanctuary, one of the most beautiful in Italy and one of the best for the variety on offer. From the simplest to the suites, almost all the rooms have period furnishings and panoramic views. Otherwise there is the camping area. In the surrounding area you will find thirteen restaurants and trattorias offering local gastronomic specialities. For nature and sports lovers, there are many activities to do in the special nature reserve of the Sacro Monte di Oropa: walking, trekking, via ferrata, climbing, mountaineering, downhill and cross-country skiing. You can then take the cable car up to the Savoia refuge at 1900 metres, from which it is a 10-minute walk to Lake Mucrone. From May to September, don't miss the botanical garden. For more info www.santuariodioropa.it.
Hermitage of San Giorgio, Bardolino (Verona)
The hermitage of Bardolino stands on Mount S. Giorgio, in a panoramic position on the promontory overlooking the eastern shore of Lake Garda near Bardolino, in the province of Verona. Overlooking the lake from the belvedere at a height of 300 metres is the enclosed area of the hermitage complex. It was some Camaldolese monks who settled here in 1665, a community that still lives and works here. Once inside, and past the first square, you enter the church of San Giorgio. The cloistered area has eight cells, each with a small garden cultivated by the monks. On the promontory, the monks have created a Way of the Cross, while enchanting, well-marked and easily accessible paths start from the hermitage. The hermitage is also connected to the town by a road that is still partly unpaved and in the last stretch steeply sloping.
The community, therefore, hosts those who wish to spend a few days in the hermitage who must, however, share the rhythms of the monks, according to the principle of ora et labora, characteristic of the Benedictine spirit. On Saturday afternoons and then on Sundays during Advent and Lent, in-depth biblical-spiritual meetings are offered in the library. For further information www.eremosangiorgio.it.
Convent of St Francis of the Desert, Venice
According to legend, St Francis of Assisi, returning from the East, landed on the island owned by the nobleman Jacopo Michiel in the Venetian lagoon in 1220, and was greeted by the singing of a multitude of birds. It is deduced that the island was what is now called San Francesco del Deserto from the fact that, in 1233, Jacopo Michiel donated the island to the Friars Minor, stating that a church dedicated to St Francis had already been built on it. In 1808, the friars were then forced to leave the island, which had been turned into barracks, due to the Napoleonic suppression of religious orders, but in 1858 it returned to the Franciscan community who made it a place of retreat and training of young people in community life. Today, the friars welcome tourists to the convent on the small island that has inspired artists and poets for centuries, shrouded in the mystical silence of the lagoon. For those who wish to rest in the peace and quiet of the island, the friars offer 15 cells, 2 large rooms for study groups and a refectory.
Visit the oratory where Francis of Assisi is said to have stayed in prayer. For more info www.sanfrancescodeldeserto.it.
Convent of Capuchin Friars, Monterosso al Mare (La Spezia)
On 20 February 1618, the Capuchin friars placed the cross on the steep slope of San Cristoforo in Monterosso al Mare. Construction began the following year and the religious installed themselves on 28 March 1622 in the convent, which consisted of twelve cells plus community rooms, with vegetable gardens on several levels, a church and churchyard.
Overlooking the sea, the Convent of the Capuchin Friars is also a stop along the Via dei Santuari, which links the Cinque Terre in a 27 km route of paths that run parallel to the coast on the heights of the hinterland. It is the least known way to discover the famous Cinque Terre on a spiritual pilgrimage through the places where the Virgin Mary has been venerated since the Middle Ages.
It is worth visiting the church dedicated to San Francesco, which preserves priceless works of art, including canvases attributed to Van Dick, Cambiaso, Statua del Gigante Piola and Guido Reni. On the way up the hill of San Cristoforo note the plaque in homage to Eugenio Montale who used to visit the graves of his loved ones here. If you wish to sleep in the convent, make a request in advance. If you are not the type for spiritual retreats, you can go and discover the artistic and natural treasures of Monterosso al Mare. For more info www.conventomonterosso.it.
Monte Maria Abbey, Malles Venosta (Bolzano)
Kloster Marienberg is the highest Benedictine abbey in Europe. It is located at an altitude of 1340 metres in the municipality of Mals in the Vinschgau Valley. The abbey was built in 1146 by Ulderico of Tarasp and his wife Uta, who belonged to a noble family from the canton of Grisons. The first monks who lived there were Swabians and came from the Benedictine monastery in Ottobeuren. Today 11 monks still live in the abbey according to the rules of St Benedict of Norcia. If you would like to stay in this place of peace, work and prayer, surrounded by the enchanting natural and cultural landscape of the Upper Vinschgau, apply for one of the 8 single rooms or the double room in the guesthouse. A cosy flat for up to five people with all facilities is also available for families who want to stay at Marienberg.
All guests are invited to participate in the monks' morning prayer and benefit from a spiritual talk with the forester father Philipp.
However, the late 12th-century monastery church is worth a visit, accessed through a magnificent Romanesque portal with a round arch and stone frame. Don't miss the crypt with its splendid frescoes. If you want to learn more about monastic life, visit the abbey's Ora et Labora museum. For more details www.marienberg.it.
Convent Sanctuary of La Verna, Chiusi della Verna (Arezzo)
It is said that in the spring of 1213 Francis of Assisi together with Brother Leo was travelling through the Montefeltro region when he heard of a feast at the castle of St. Leo. Hoping to evangelise other believers, St Francis went to the castle and there he met the Count of Chiusi in Casentino, Orlando Catani, who offered him the mountain of Verna, on which he could lead his life of prayer. Mount Verna became the sacred mountain of Franciscan contemplation, also called the 'Seraphic Calvary', because it was here that Francis of Assisi received the final seal of the stigmata. At an altitude of 1283 metres in the Tuscan Apennines, stands the monastery, which has been enriched with numerous treasures over time. The Verna community gladly welcomes all those who climb the mountain, and especially pilgrims who come in search of a moment of prayer and reflection. If you wish to spend a few days at the monastery, the guest quarters have numerous rooms, with heating, bathroom and shower. If you wish to join the friars' table, book full board at the Pilgrim's refectory.
At La Verna, it is possible to participate in the prayers and celebrations of the friars, who are available for confessions, guidance at the shrine or for talks. For friars, religious, priests and seminarians who wish to rest, or make a spiritual retreat in fraternity with the Franciscan community, there are rooms dedicated to them in the friary.
While the house of prayer is open to individual young people who wish to carve out a few moments of reflection. For info www.laverna.it.
Abbey of Santa Maria di Farfa, Fara in Sabina (Rieti)
In the heart of ancient Sabina, at the foot of Mount Acuziano, in an atmosphere of mystical silence, which also envelops the characteristic village that surrounds it, rises the historic Abbey of Farfa, immersed in verdant nature and nestled among olive trees at an altitude of 200 metres. It was one of the most important religious and civil monuments of the European Middle Ages and grew in importance until it possessed one of the largest areas in central Italy. In 1928, Farfa Abbey was declared a national monument. The Cassinese Benedictine monks will show you the 16th-century abbey church, the rich library, the museum and the Carolingian crypt. For those who want to stay overnight, the guesthouse is divided into indoor, where the six rooms are reserved for men only, and outdoor, which comprises eight rooms. Other buildings are under construction to accommodate larger groups. Do not miss the Monastica Officina, the ancient herbalist's shop of Farfa Abbey, which today offers herbal teas, ointments, natural remedies, liqueurs, honey and jams from all the Italian and European monasteries. L'Orto dei Semplici is being set up with officinal, medicinal and aromatic herbs so that the monastic community can resume the ancient tradition of making its own products in the herbalist shop. For information www.abbaziadifarfa.it
Convent Sanctuary of San Michele, Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia)
In the heart of the Gargano National Park, the primitive sanctuary was erected in the fifth century near the grotto where the Archangel Michael is said to have appeared three times, already a pagan temple in Greek and Roman times. The sanctuary on Monte Sant'Angelo became the first epicentre of the Micaelic cult that spread throughout the Longobard kingdom, soon becoming the main centre of worship of the archangel in the entire West.
Walk down the Angevin staircase to the entrance vestibule and pass through the 10th-century bronze door to enter the basilica, which consists largely of the mystical grotto. Internally connected to the sanctuary, the Casa del Pellegrino, right in the centre of the city, offers 50 en-suite rooms for up to 115 people. A large dining room offers carefully prepared and served meals at an affordable price. The dining room has an airy terrace from which guests can enjoy the mountain climate and admire the panorama of the Gargano promontory. A large, modern auditorium and four rooms for study groups are available to all pilgrims. For further information www.santuariosanmichele.it
Convent Sanctuary of Mary Most Holy Gibilmanna, Cefalù
At 800 metres on the western slopes of Pizzo Sant'Angelo, surrounded by a forest of oak and chestnut trees, stands the Convent Sanctuary of Gibilmanna. According to tradition, this was one of the six Benedictine monasteries that St Gregory the Great had built at his own expense, before being elected pontiff in 540. Until the arrival of the Capuchin Franciscan friars in the 16th century, the church was guarded by various hermits. A pilgrimage destination and the centre of an intense spiritual and cultural life, the sanctuary preserves numerous works of art, including the Statue of St John the Baptist (Scipione Casella), the Statue of St Helena (Gagini 1543-1554) and the valuable marble simulacrum of the Madonna of Gibilmanna. Pilgrims who wish to participate in monastic life can contact the Casa di Accoglienza Santa Chiara, which hosts families and groups of lay and religious people for spiritual retreats and periods of study. You may also attend classical and contemporary music concerts, conferences and art exhibitions organised by the monastery. Information on telephone number 0921421835
Abbey of San Pietro di Sorres, Borutta (Sassari)
On Sorres hill at 570 metres in the municipality of Borutta, in the province of Sassari in Sardinia, stands a recently built monastic complex. Work began in 1950 and the first monks arrived here in 1967, but only in 1974 was the monastery elevated to the status of abbey.
The return of the Benedictine monks to Sardinia after an absence of five centuries was therefore a memorable event. The abbey offers 23 en-suite rooms with the possibility of booking full board. If you do not want to sleep in the monastery, you can also just join the monks for lunch. The abbey is the ideal place to share a few days of spiritual reflection immersed in silence and Sardinian nature, but it is also an opportunity for artistic and cultural enrichment. Therefore, visit the cathedral of San Pietro di Sorres, a Romanesque masterpiece located next to the abbey, and join one of the many activities offered, including writing and iconography courses. The monastery also has an important book restoration workshop and occasionally organises vocal concerts especially for traditional Sardinian polyphonic choirs. For more info www.sorres.it
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