SHARRYLAND
Monastery of Fonte Avellana
Mystical and contemplative place on the slopes of Mount Catria
Where is
What it is and where it is
Surrounded by dense forest vegetation, the Monastery of Fonte Avellana is a place shrouded in profound silence, broken from time to time by the ringing of bells and the whispering of tourists seeking quiet. The mystical atmosphere is so intense that it persuaded Dante, who was a guest here in 1318, to place there The Heaven of Contemplatives (Canto XXI of Paradise). An important Camaldolese center of the Benedictine order, the Monastery originated in 980 and is a splendid example of the Romanesque style. Far from being a place separate from the context in which it is inserted, the Monastery is a center aimed at weaving relationships with different cultural, secular and religious realities. From this need flourishes the organization of a busy calendar of proposals of spiritual, cultural and naturalistic interest. The dates of events, concerts, debates, retreats and other initiatives are always updated on the website.
Not to be missed
Of the rooms that can be visited, there is the abbey (1171) of Romanesque-Gothic style, with a single nave and a raised chancel where an imposing wooden crucifix (1567) and the choir are located. The slender lines and dim light from above from meager windows give the room a sober solemnity. Next, the Chapter House (once dedicated to meetings), the Hall of St. John of Lodi, the Scriptorium (where the amanuenses copied sacred texts) and the crypt: originally the main church, today the oldest part of the whole complex. Opposite the bar restaurant: the traditional pharmacy, aimed at the production and sale of preparations faithful to ancient medieval recipes.
A bit of history
The history of this monastery begins in the 10th century when a group of hermits stopped at this place, built a few cells and a small chapel on the back of the rock. It was the influence of such incisive personalities as St. Romuald and Pier Damiani that made Fonte Avellana a point of reference for the spread of monastic life.
Trivia
The name Fonte Avellana originates from two specific territorial characteristics: first, the Cesano River (the spring) has its source in the vicinity of the monastery, while the second part of the name derives from the fact that the surrounding forest is rich in hazelnuts (Corylus avellana).
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