Abbey of Fruttuaria, San Benigno Canavese, Italy

Abbey of Fruttuaria was founded by Guglielmo da Volpiano. The first stone was laid 23 February 1003, consecrated by Ottobiano, bishop of Ivrea, in the presence of Arduin, marchese d'Ivrea and King of Italy, and his consort Berta. The monastery was completed in 1006-1007 and followed the Benedictine rule as reformed at Cluny. There Arduin retired to die (December 1015). In 1027 a bull of Pope John XIX placed the abbey and all its lands under direct papal supervision. The Empress Agnes was a patron of Fruttuaria, and retired there in 1065 before moving to Rome. The Empress was instrumental in introducing Fruttuaria's Benedictine customs, as practiced at Cluny, to Saint Blaise Abbey in Baden-Württemberg.

The greatest splendor of the abbey of Fruttuaria was in the 12th and 13th centuries when it minted its own coin. In 1265 the abbey possessed eighty-five churches in Italy alone, as well as four comunes, the quattro terre abbaziali of San Benigno Canavese, Montanaro, Lombardore and Foglizzo. Other possessions lay in France and Austria. Some 1,200 monks inhabited the monastery.

In the 14th century, decline set in, culminating in 1477 when the monks lost their privilege of naming the abbot. Nominating an absentee abbot in commendam and a vicar to represent him at the site was thenceforth a papal perquisite. In 1585 Pope Sixtus V suppressed the monastery, substituting in its buildings a college of secular priests. The last monk died in 1634.

In 1710 troops of Victor Amadeus II, duke of Savoy, occupied the terre abbaziali, an occupation that lasted until 1741 and only ended with papal renunciation of all territorial control.

In 1749, a new abbot held Fruttuaria in commendam, Carlo Vittorio Amedeo delle Lanze, who in 1770 razed the remains of the Romanesque church and monastery, save the campanile, and erected a new church in their stead, to Late Baroque classicizing designs by Bernardo Antonio Vittone and Mario Quarini.

In 1979, work involved in installing heating brought to light an 11th-century mosaic representing two griffons. Excavations have revealed the foundations of the Romanesque church. Restorations were concluded in May 2004.

References:

Wikipedia

User Reviews

Roberto Gonella (9 months ago)
In the village of San Benigno Canavese there is this jewel of a thousand-year-old abbey and then a late-Baroque church. Of notable interest are the 11th century floor mosaics, the canopy inspired by that of St. Peter's in the Vatican and the basement: a rare recovery and museum display work for such a small centre, but so significant for the history of the region and the connections with Cluny, Rome and Turin. Congratulations to the volunteers who take care of the visits (1st and 3rd Sunday of each month between 3.00 pm and 5.00 pm) with passion, competence and love for the place. Free entry with a guided tour (about an hour), although for the quality of the visit an offer is more than deserved. San Benigno can also be reached by train, in less than 30 minutes from Turin. From the station it's a 10 minute walk.

arianna draperi (11 months ago)
Abbey in the heart of a small village in Ivrea, in San Benigno, which contains a splendid wonder. Visited on the first Sunday of the month, we were welcomed by a very expert and competent volunteer guide who illustrated the abbey in all its architectural and vice versa historical parts. The peculiarity is the coexistence of two types of churches in the same place, one Romanesque which has now become an archaeological route of importance, and the other baroque/neoclassical characterized by the eighteenth-century efforts and the Roman influences of San Pietro. Well-preserved archaeological and cultural site, a visit highly recommended.

BRIC80 (12 months ago)
Beautiful place to visit with free guides on weekends who explain its history well. Advise!!

Martina Lombardo (13 months ago)
Splendid Abbey in a small village in the province of Turin, the guide told us the history well without letting us get bored, he also took us to see the remains of the previous church in the basement around the year 1000. I came with a young group and I We were surprised to see the youth in this place, go there it's worth it! The visit is available on the first and third Sunday of the month until 5pm

Alessio Passarello (2 years ago)
It may seem like the usual village church, but this abbey has a lot to tell. The guide's work in explaining and engaging in the history of the building was incredible. The restoration is very beautiful and brings to light a particularly long-lasting legacy.

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