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Ruins of the Convent of St Nicholas in Scandriglia: one of Italy's first Capuchin monasteries
The ruins of the Convent of San Nicola are located halfway up the slopes above Scandriglia, in the Monti Lucretili Park. From here, there is a fine view of the entire Sabina region. Today, all that remains are crumbling walls, a cloister overgrown with brambles, and a few ancient holm oaks. Yet, for three and a half centuries, this was one of the most important convents in central Italy.
The second Capuchin convent in Italy
The Capuchin friars founded it around 1530, just two years after the Order's official approval. It was the second Capuchin convent in Italy, after that in Camerino. It was built over a 13th-century church dedicated to St Nicholas, erected—according to legend—to protect the village from rockfalls. The convent housed up to 22 monks and served as a novitiate. It had a library that opened in 1720, workshops, and a cloister with a well and sundial. The 13th-century panel triptych that once stood on the high altar survived, and is now preserved in Scandriglia’s Town Hall.
From suppression to abandonment
Following the Suppression Law of June 19, 1866, the convent became state property. The friars were only allowed to remain as caretakers of the church. The last friar was Father Raffaele da Mugnano, who fell ill and left in 1888. Despite the pleas of the locals, he was never replaced. In the 20th century the complex was repurposed for civil and welfare use, hosting children’s activities and youth initiatives, before its final abandonment after the Second World War.
