Monastero di Fonte Avellana

About the museum

The monastery stands at about 700 metres above sea level on the slopes of Monte Catria. Its origins date back to the late 10th century, when a group of hermits, inspired by the spirituality of Saint Romuald of Ravenna, built the first cells. In 1035 Peter Damian arrived, who gave the community a common rule and a strong impetus to study; he was its prior from 1043.

The basilica of Santa Croce was begun in 1171 and preserves a 10th-century crypt beneath the raised presbytery. The complex was raised to abbey status in 1325 and, at the end of the 15th century, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II, promoted an extension. A reference in Canto XXI of Dante's Paradiso has made the place famous beyond the religious sphere.

The scriptorium, dating from the 13th century, retains its original structure with a barrel vault and tall windows: here the scribes copied and illuminated the texts. The historic library, established in 1733, holds about 20,000 printed volumes, including a 1470 incunabulum, and eleven medieval manuscripts. A modern library, founded in 1965, holds about another 10,000 volumes. The monastery is still home to a community of Camaldolese monks.

Highlights

• Medieval scriptorium with barrel vault
• Basilica of Santa Croce with 10th-century crypt
• Historic library of 1733 with a 1470 incunabulum and medieval manuscripts
• Place mentioned by Dante in Canto XXI of the Paradiso

Operated by

Comunità monastica camaldolese di Fonte Avellana

Visitors per year

approx. 550

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