The benedictine monasteries

I monasteri benedettini (The benedictine monasteries)

Subiaco: one step after another, one little chapel after another. Going up to the monasteries is like a procession towards heaven. And it is a feeling that many have had throughout the centuries: first there is the splendid structure of the Abbey dedicated to Santa Scholastica,

an imposing space that reminds us of the power of the church of yesteryear, with cloisters and frescoes.

Then, as we walk along the trail through the woods, we continue to climb. We find the small chapels that are the last part of the itinerary, offering a glimpse of the gorge of the Aniene, which we can hear flowing impetuously. Our gaze falls upon something that is perched, unexpected and beautiful: the Speco.
Here it is at last, in all its majesty, the monastery of St. Benedict. Inside we find the colours, characters and stories of Jesus and St. Benedict, and the oldest image of St. Francis. They all welcome us in an engaging and emotional embrace, making us rediscover a spirituality that has been lost over the centuries.