Valvisciolo Abbey
Encyclopedia
Valvisciolo Abbey is a Cistercian monastery
in the province of Latina
, central Italy
, near the towns of Sermoneta
and Ninfa.
It is an example of rigorous Romanesque
-Cistercian architecture, considered a masterpiece of that style in central Italy second only to the nearby Fossanova Abbey
.
was founded in the 8th century by Greek Basilian
monks. It was occupied and restored by the Knights Templar
in the 13th century, who after the dissolution of their order were replaced by the Cistercians in 1312-15. The monastery was dissolved in 1807 but was re-settled in 1864 and is still extant.
According to a medieval legend, when the Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay
was burnt at the stake in 1314, the church's architrave
s were broken. The Templar influence can be still noticed today from several crosses with their characteristic shape, such as that in the rose window
. During a restoration, a Templar palindromic
Sator Square was discovered on a wall: it is the only known variant in which the letters form five concentric rings, each one divided into five sectors.
In 1411 the abbey passed into the hands of Paolo Caetani as commendatory abbot
. In 1523 Pope Clement VII
reduced it to the rank of a priory
, and in 1529 it was further reduced to a secular priory. From 1600 / 1605 it was occupied by Cistercians of the congregation of the Feuillants
until 1619. Between 1619 and 1635 the premises were used by the Minims
of Saint Francis of Paola
. The Feuillants then returned and remained there until the suppression of religious orders enforced by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Pope Pius IX
made two important visits to the abbey in 1863 and 1865, and by his order the community here was re-established, as a priory dependent upon the congregation of Casamari. The abbey continues until today to accommodate Cistercian monks of the same congregation.
es in the years 1586-89 by Niccolò Circignani
, known as "il Pomarancio" on commission from Cardinal Enrico Caetani
.
Over the main entrance portal a rose window
can be seen. The cloister
, located to the right of the abbey and looking onto the façade
, has a brightly coloured garden.
The abbey is situated in a small valley known by medieval tradition as the valley of the nightingale.
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
in the province of Latina
Province of Latina
The Province of Latina is a province in the Lazio region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Latina.It has an area of 2,251 km², and a total population of 519,850...
, central 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...
, near the towns of Sermoneta
Sermoneta
Sermoneta is a hill town and comune in the province of Latina , central Italy.It is a walled hill town, with a 13th-century Romanesque cathedral called Cathedral of S. Maria Assunta and a massive castle, built by the Caetani family. The Cistercian Valvisciolo Abbey is located nearby...
and Ninfa.
It is an example of rigorous Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
-Cistercian architecture, considered a masterpiece of that style in central Italy second only to the nearby Fossanova Abbey
Fossanova Abbey
Fossanova Abbey, earlier Fossa Nuova, is a Cistercian monastery in Italy, in the province of Latina, near the railway-station of Priverno, c. 100 kilometers south-east of Rome....
.
History
According to tradition, the abbeyAbbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
was founded in the 8th century by Greek Basilian
Basilian
Basilian may refer to one of the following.* Basilian monk of the Eastern Orthodox or Eastern Catholic Churches* The Congregation of St. Basil, a Latin-rite order of priests of the Roman Catholic Church....
monks. It was occupied and restored by the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
in the 13th century, who after the dissolution of their order were replaced by the Cistercians in 1312-15. The monastery was dissolved in 1807 but was re-settled in 1864 and is still extant.
According to a medieval legend, when the Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay
Jacques de Molay
Jacques de Molay was the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Knights Templar, leading the Order from 20 April 1292 until it was dissolved by order of Pope Clement V in 1312...
was burnt at the stake in 1314, the church's architrave
Architrave
An architrave is the lintel or beam that rests on the capitals of the columns. It is an architectural element in Classical architecture.-Classical architecture:...
s were broken. The Templar influence can be still noticed today from several crosses with their characteristic shape, such as that in the rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
. During a restoration, a Templar palindromic
Palindrome
A palindrome is a word, phrase, number, or other sequence of units that can be read the same way in either direction, with general allowances for adjustments to punctuation and word dividers....
Sator Square was discovered on a wall: it is the only known variant in which the letters form five concentric rings, each one divided into five sectors.
In 1411 the abbey passed into the hands of Paolo Caetani as commendatory abbot
Commendatory abbot
A commendatory abbot is an ecclesiastic, or sometimes a layman, who holds an abbey in commendam, drawing its revenues but not exercising any authority over its inner monastic discipline...
. In 1523 Pope Clement VII
Pope Clement VII
Clement VII , born Giulio di Giuliano de' Medici, was a cardinal from 1513 to 1523 and was Pope from 1523 to 1534.-Early life:...
reduced it to the rank of a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
, and in 1529 it was further reduced to a secular priory. From 1600 / 1605 it was occupied by Cistercians of the congregation of the Feuillants
Feuillant (monks)
The Feuillants were monks of the Cistercian order who established an abbey in the diocese of Rieux in 1145.The abbey was named Notre-Dame-des-Feuillants and the name came to be applied to the monks too. Pope Gregory XIII established the Feuillants as a separate congregation in 1589 under their...
until 1619. Between 1619 and 1635 the premises were used by the Minims
Minim (religious order)
The Minims are members of a Roman Catholic religious order of friars founded by Saint Francis of Paola in fifteenth-century Italy...
of Saint Francis of Paola
Francis of Paola
Saint Francis of Paola was an Italian mendicant friar and the founder of the Roman Catholic Order of the Minims.-Biography:...
. The Feuillants then returned and remained there until the suppression of religious orders enforced by Napoleon Bonaparte.
Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
made two important visits to the abbey in 1863 and 1865, and by his order the community here was re-established, as a priory dependent upon the congregation of Casamari. The abbey continues until today to accommodate Cistercian monks of the same congregation.
Buildings
The interior of the church consists of a nave and two aisles divided by pilasters and columns. The walls are plain, according to the Cistercian taste. At the end of the north nave is the Chapel of Saint Laurence, painted with frescoFresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es in the years 1586-89 by Niccolò Circignani
Niccolò Circignani
Niccolò Circignani was an Italian painter of the late-Renaissance or Mannerist period.Born in Pomarance, he is one of three Italian painters called Pomarancio. His first works are documented from the 1560s, where he painted frescos on the Old Testament stories for the Vatican Belvedere, where he...
, known as "il Pomarancio" on commission from Cardinal Enrico Caetani
Enrico Caetani
Enrico Caetani was an Italian cardinal.-Early life:He was born at Sermoneta, the second son of Bonifacio, lord of Sermoneta, and Caterina di Alberto Pio, daughter of the lord of Carpi. He was the nephew of Cardinal Niccolò Caetani, and brother of Camillo Caetani.Pope Sixtus V gave him the title of...
.
Over the main entrance portal a rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
can be seen. The cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
, located to the right of the abbey and looking onto the façade
Facade
A facade or façade is generally one exterior side of a building, usually, but not always, the front. The word comes from the French language, literally meaning "frontage" or "face"....
, has a brightly coloured garden.
The abbey is situated in a small valley known by medieval tradition as the valley of the nightingale.
Sources
- Testa, Sonia, 2007: Abbazia di Valvisciolo, "Vallis Lusciniae" Ars et Historia. Grafica 87, Pontinia 2007.