Abbey of St Maria del Monte
Encyclopedia
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. This imposing building stands on the Colle Spaziano (Spaziano Hill).
After the year 1000 a Basilica with tree naves was built between the year 1001 and 1026 and finally a Benedictine
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
Monastery was founded in honor of Bishop Mauro, now a saint, who had the custom of climbing the hill to pray.
Between 1536 and 1548 the church assumed its present day appearance on the basis of a design by Domenico Gravini of Brisighella
Brisighella
Brisighella is a comune in the Province of Ravenna in the Italian region Emilia-Romagna, located about 45 km southeast of Bologna and about 40 km southwest of Ravenna....
on an original design by Bramante. As the centre of the artistic life of the city
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
the Basilica del Monte also benefited from the work of the best artist in the area of Cesena
Cesena
Cesena is a city and comune in the Emilia-Romagna region of northern Italy, south of Ravenna and west of Rimini, on the Savio River, co-chief of the Province of Forlì-Cesena. It is at the foot of the Apennines, and about 15 km from the Adriatic Sea.-History:Cesena was originally an Umbrian...
: Scipione Sacco
Scipione Sacco
Scipione Sacco was an Italian painter of the Renaissance, active near or in Cesena.Born in the town of Sogliano al Rubicone, he painted a St Gregory for the cathedral of Cesena in 1545. He died in Cesena.-References:...
, Girolamo Longhi and Francesco Masini. Important works are also attributable to Francesco Morandi, known as the Terribilia, to whom we owe the cupola (dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
) (decorated by Francesco Masini between 1568 and 1571) and original stone staircase, and to Alessandro Corsi who in 1588 was the creator of the monumental well of the Great Cloister.
Something of great beauty behind the main altar in the wooden choir by Giuseppe d’Alberto di Scalva which was completed in 1575.
A series of unlucky events led to a crisis for the Benedictine buildings which lasted throughout hundred and was aggravated by the earthquake of 1768 which destroyed the cupola (dome
Dome
A dome is a structural element of architecture that resembles the hollow upper half of a sphere. Dome structures made of various materials have a long architectural lineage extending into prehistory....
) of the basilica. The cupola was reconstructed by Pietro Carlo Borboni and decorated by Giuseppe Milani between 1773 and 1774.
The abbey is also known for hosting of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
's richest collection of ex-voto
Ex-voto
An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or divinity. It is given in fulfillment of a vow or in gratitude or devotion...
(votive tables that date back more than five centuries), and for the laboratory for antique book restoration that continues to operate today.