Raccolta d'arte votiva
More than seven hundred painted votive tablets, from the 15th century to today, displayed in the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte in Cesena.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Abbey of Santa Maria del Monte stands on the Colle Spaziano above Cesena and is a Benedictine monastery documented since the 11th century. Since 1318 the statue of the Madonna has been venerated in the basilica, which from then on took on a strongly Marian character and is today the Marian shrine of the diocese.
The devotion of the faithful has left a large collection of ex-votos over time: small painted tablets commemorating illnesses cured, accidents, fires, earthquakes, shipwrecks and other dangers escaped through the intercession of the Virgin. The oldest examples date from the 15th and 16th centuries and have compositions similar to those of altarpieces; others are simpler works by folk painters. Taken together they document the personal faith and everyday life of Romagna for more than five centuries.
Many ex-votos were lost during the First World War, others through neglect or the passing of time. The surviving tablets have been restored, ordered and catalogued, and are now arranged in chronological order in fourteen display cases, starting from the sacristy. The collection, which exceeds seven hundred items and continues to grow, is considered one of the oldest and most complete in Europe.
Highlights
- Over 700 painted votive tablets
- 15th- and 16th-century examples with altarpiece-style compositions
- Chronological arrangement in fourteen display cases, starting from the sacristy
- Marian basilica with the frieze by Gerolamo Longhi
- Visit within the Benedictine monastery
- Operated by
- Abbazia di Santa Maria del Monte (comunità benedettina)
Admission & discounts
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Accessibility
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Kids & families
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Getting there & parking
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Amenities & dining
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Events & venue rental
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Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| Good to know | Visits must be booked at info@abbaziadelmonte.it or on +39 0547 302 061. Religious services take precedence over visits: Mass on Sundays and public holidays is at 8:00 and 11:00, and on weekdays at 7:30. |
