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Convent of the Cappuchins: From Fortress of Faith to Artists' Oasis
An ancient convent has taken on a new identity in the village of Monte San Giovanni Campano. What for centuries was a place of prayer is today the "Oasi di Fra' Galdino", a residence that welcomes painters and sculptors from around the world. A place where the spirituality of the past meets and inspires the creativity of the present.
A History of Destruction and Rebirth
Built near a small early Christian church, the original 11th-century monastery was razed to the ground not once but twice: first by the Saracens, and then in 1495 by the troops of French king Charles VIII. The centuries-long resilience to disaster has forged its very character.
The Turning Point, and a New Life
Its rebirth came in 1531, when the Duchess of Monte San Giovanni had it rebuilt, and donated it to the Friars Minor Capuchin. After a long period of abandonment, following the German occupation in the Second World War, the complex seemed destined to fall into ruin, but it was saved by a restoration project funded by the Municipality. The structure reopened in 1982, marking the beginning of its new life as a cultural centre. Inside, a fine wooden triptych and decorations from the early 20th century still bear witness to its long religious history.
The complex is located approximately one kilometre from the centre of Monte San Giovanni Campano (FR).
