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Overview
A place of nature and spirit
Immersed in the splendid nature of the Monti Simbruini Regional Park is the Monastery of Saint Benedict, built on the site of the “Sacro Speco”, the “Sacred Cave” where legend has it the saint lived in the 6th century.
The Lower Church, just above the cave, dates to the 12th century and is the original core of the monastery. The Upper Church was added in the mid-14th century. Today, the Monastery of Saint Benedict and nearby Monastery of Saint Scholastica are one spiritual complex.
The Monastery is set in the rock face of Monte Taleo, near Subiaco. The place where the saint retired became a place of worship as early as the 6th century. Today, the Monastery includes several chapels carved out of the rock the structure is attached to.
Don’t miss the pictorial cycles from the 13th and 14th centuries: beautifully preserved frescoes depicting the Passion of Christ, the life of the Madonna and the life of Saint Benedict of Norcia. It is also home to the oldest portrait of Saint Francis of Assisi, who arrived in Subiaco in 1223. In the refectory, you can admire the splendid 14th-century Last Supper.
Via S. Benedetto, snc, 00028 Subiaco RM, Italy
