Tiglieto Abbey

Tiglieto, Italy

Tiglieto Abbey, founded in 1120, was the first Cistercian abbey to be founded in Italy, and also the first outside France. It was a daughter house of La Ferté Abbey. The first abbot was probably Opizzone. It may have gained the name Tiglieto after being given the estate of that name by the Margrave Anselm of Ponsone in 1131.

In 1442, through Pope Eugenius IV, Tiglieto became an abbey in commendam. In 1648 it was turned into a family estate of the last commendatory abbot, Cardinal Raggio, and dissolved. In 1747 the area was occupied by the Austrians, who shortly afterwards were driven out by the Genoese. In 2000 Tiglieto was reoccupied by the Cistercians.

The church is a primitive Romanesque brick basilica; the original side-chapels were removed in the 14th century to make way for a new east end. The nave was vaulted in the Baroque period, and a new choir at the west end was added at the same time, as was a Baroque campanile.

The conventual buildings are to the south of the church. The early Gothic chapter house in the east range has survived, with a square chapter room with nine bays from the early 13th century and symmetrical triforium windows looking onto the central courtyard and the site of the cloister, no longer extant, with the dormitory with bricked-up windows in the upper storey, as have the sacristy, the Fraternei and to the south the refectory building, as well as the lay brothers' block in the west, now converted for residential purposes.

The entire precinct was renovated for the new community that took over the premises in 2000.

References:

Comments

Your name



Details

Founded: 1120
Category: Religious sites in Italy

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.6/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Artemisia (2 years ago)
The Badia di Tiglieto dates back to the 12th century and hosted the first community in Italy of French Cistercian monks. The monastic complex is made up of the church, the convent, the cloister overlooked by the refectory and various spaces for agricultural use. The role of the monks in this territory was important both culturally and economically and traces of their industriousness are still visible. They developed agricultural and forestry-pastoral activities making these places productive. Unfortunately the Abbey suffered, as often happened, robberies and attacks and already at the end of 1200 it began to decline, until it was abandoned. Since the mid-1600s it has been owned by the Raggi family who still manage it today. The landscape that surrounds it is very suggestive, beautiful in every season. It is part of the Beigua Regional Park.
Gianmarco Cerruti (3 years ago)
The place deserves 5 stars, but unfortunately it is somewhat left to itself. Too bad not being able to visit the structure or rest in the park with ancient trees. The circular route around the abbey is beautiful and well signposted.
Antonella Osmio (3 years ago)
Beautiful Abbey, visited only from the outside, all around a marvel! It can be reached from the free parking area with a picnic area nearby. Presence of bathrooms (there were people who complained that they were unusable). Around the clean forest where you can walk in peace !! Recommended destination for the whole family!
Massimo Balocco (3 years ago)
An enchanting and silent place, surrounding environment "of other times". Too bad the abbey wasn't open, but the rest around pays off. Free parking, the church is about 400 meters away. on foot from where you leave your car, camping is not allowed, picnic tables near the car park. Mountains and valleys around absolutely to be explored.
stefania ricci (3 years ago)
The abbey is beautiful, but the hiking ring has some things to review. Signage, especially in conjunction with the intersections with the asphalt road, lacking. A map of the excursion should be placed in the parking area, so as to photograph it and not have problems along the way. Beautiful views but a little ... Abandoned
Powered by Google

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Historic Site of the week

Abbey of Saint-Georges

Saint-Georges de Boscherville Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey. It was founded in about 1113 by Guillaume de Tancarville on the site of an earlier establishment of secular canons and settled by monks from the Abbey of Saint-Evroul. The abbey church made of Caumont stone was erected from 1113 to 1140. The Norman builders aimed to have very well-lit naves and they did this by means of tall, large windows, initially made possible by a wooden ceiling, which prevented uplift, although this was replaced by a Gothic vault in the 13th century. The chapter room was built after the abbey church and dates from the last quarter of the 12th century.

The arrival of the Maurist monks in 1659, after the disasters of the Wars of Religion, helped to get the abbey back on a firmer spiritual, architectural and economic footing. They erected a large monastic building one wing of which fitted tightly around the chapter house (which was otherwise left as it was).