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Abbazia di Pomposa

Abbazia di Pomposa

Codigoro, IT

The Abbey of Pomposa is a 9th-century abbey and one of the most important in Northern Italy. The abbey visible today was consecrated in 1026 by Abbot Guido. At the same time, the monk Guido d'Arezzo (992-1033) conceived the modern musical notation and fixed the names of the musical notes. In 1653, Pope Innocent X suppressed the monastery, which was bought by the Guiccioli family of Ravenna in 1802. At the end of the 19th century, its ownership passed to the Italian state. The oldest part of the adjoining Basilica of Santa Maria dates from the 8th-9th centuries. The bell tower dates back to 1063 and is reminiscent of the Abbey of San Mercuriale in the nearby town of Forlì.

Abbazia di San Domenico

Abbazia di San Domenico

Sora, IT

The monastery of San Domenico has been a Benedictine abbey since 1011, and a Cistercian priory since 1222. Monastic life ceased in 1653, but the monastery was repopulated by the Casamari in 1833 and still exists today. The monastery's church has been a parish church since 1935 and has held the title of minor basilica since the celebration of the millennium in 2011. The Cistercian character of the church has been preserved despite the damage caused by earthquakes.

Abbazia di San Mercuriale

Abbazia di San Mercuriale

Forlì, IT

The Abbey of San Mercuriale, also known as the Church of San Mercuriale, is an abbey completed around 1181 in Lombard Romanesque style after the previous structure burnt down in 1173. In the 14th century, the porch was replaced by the Gothic portal that still exists and the two side chapels on the façade were built as an extension of the structure and demolished in 1646. The apse was also rebuilt in 1585. In 1646, extensive reconstruction work was undertaken. The work concerned both the façade and the body of the church, with the aim of creating a well-lit interior environment. The 14th-century connecting portico was also demolished to make room for the two entrances to the side aisles. The tower of the Abbey of San Merculiare, at 75 metres long, is one of the highest in the country.

Abbey of Fossanova

Abbey of Fossanova

Priverno, IT

The Abbey of Fossanova is a daughter of the Abbey of Altacomba from the second half of the 12th century. The Abbey of Fossanova is the oldest example of Cistercian Gothic art in Italy and, together with the Abbey of Casamari, one of its highest expressions. In the infirmary is the room where St. Thomas Aquinas lived, prayed and meditated during the last days of his life and where he died in 1274.

Abbey of San Galgano

Abbey of San Galgano

Chiusdino, IT

The Abbey of San Galgano is an ancient Cistercian abbey of the 13th century. The site includes the hermitage (called "Rotonda di Montesiepi") and the great abbey, today completely in ruins and reduced only to the walls. The prosperity of the monastery ceased at the end of the 14th century, when Italy was in a state of perpetual war and the warlords sacked the area. In 1577 a restoration of the setting was begun, but it did not prevent further degradation. In 1600, some sources claim that only one monk remained in the abbey, reduced to the state of a hermit.

Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista

Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista

Parma, IT

The Abbey of San Giovanni Evangelista is a Benedictine complex built between 1510 and 1607. The marble facade of the abbey church was designed by Simone Moschino in late Mannerist style in 1604 and completed in 1607. The bell tower was added in 1613. With a height of 75 metres it is the highest in Parma.

Acerenza Cathedral

Acerenza Cathedral

Acerenza, IT

The present cathedral was built between the 11th and 13th centuries on the remains of a former early Christian church. In 1281, the church was partially rebuilt in Roman-Gothic forms, but in 1456, this Romanesque cathedral was severely damaged by an earthquake; moreover, due to a long series of non-resident archbishops, the building was abandoned. It was not until 1524 that the complete restoration of the church began. After the earthquake of 1921, the dome of the bell tower was replaced by a terrace, while the dome of the cathedral was rebuilt in 1934, as the earthquake of 1930 had seriously damaged the original cylindrical dome.

Acerra Cathedral

Acerra Cathedral

Acerra, IT

Acerra Cathedral stands on the site of an ancient Roman temple dedicated to Hercules. It has been rebuilt several times, the present building dates from the 19th century. Its plan is in the shape of a Latin cross with a nave and two aisles separated by pillars. The façade is in neoclassical style with eight Ionic columns, on a pavement that alternates basalt and chessboard marble.

Acquapendente Cathedral

Acquapendente Cathedral

Acquapendente, IT

Acquapendente Cathedral is a 10th century Romanesque basilica and historically belongs to the Benedictine order. It is dedicated to the Holy Sepulchre because it preserves a blood-stained stone which, according to tradition, comes from the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. In medieval times, the basilica was frequented by pilgrims and crusaders, being situated on the Via Francigena towards Rome. It became a cathedral in 1649 and has undergone many embellishments over the centuries. The façade of the building is the result of restoration works promoted in 1746 by Pope Benedict XIV.

Acqui Terme Cathedral

Acqui Terme Cathedral

Acqui Terme, IT

The cathedral of Acqui Terme was begun by Bishop Primo in the 11th century and consecrated on 11th November 1067 by Bishop Guido, who is venerated as the patron saint of the city and the diocese. It was built by Lombards in the form of a Romanesque building with a Latin cross plan and a projecting transept. Originally with three naves, the church was added two in the 18th century, with side chapels.

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