A tour to explore the art and history of some of the towns of Latium that have been profoundly affected by three major religious orders: Franciscans, Benedictines and Cistercians - discovering Greccio, Subiaco and Casamari.
St. Francis and the First Crèche
Arrival at Rome Fiumicino airport and departure for Greccio. Here, on Christmas Eve 1223, St. Francis celebrated mass by recalling the Nativity with models and animals in a cave hewn in the rock that has become the Crèche Chapel of the present convent. Of interest is the saint’s dormitory, the small church dedicated to him and the oratory containing a copy of the lost portrait of St. Francis. After lunch, departure for the Abbey of Farfa, founded in the 6th century A.D. and one of the most important religious and cultural centres of the middle ages. The church was rebuilt in the 15th century and frescoed by the school of Zuccari and Orazio Gentileschi. The small cloister has a view of the mediaeval apse and bell tower, while the large cloister leads in to the Carolingian crypt. Dinner and overnight stay at an agritourism near Rieti.
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The First Sites of St. Benedict
After breakfast, departure for Subiaco, which is famous for the monasteries set along the road to Vallepietra. The monastery of St. Scolastica, founded by St. Benedict, consists of the convent, three cloisters and the mediaeval church with a Neo-classical interior, built in 1770 by Quarenghi. After lunch, departure for the monastery of St. Benedict, with its upper and lower churches built against the rock face and splendidly frescoed between the 3rd and 5th century. The lower church leads to the Sacro Speco, the grotto where St. Benedict spent his first years as a monk, and the Holy Stairway. Further down is the Shepherds’ Cave containing a rock painting dating from the 7th century. Departure for Fiuggi, famous for its waters and spas, and transfer to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel and overnight stay.
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The Cistercians and Italian Gothic
After breakfast, visit to the Abbey of Casamari, founded by the Cistercians, who developed it into one of the greatest monastic centres of mediaeval Italy. The complex revolves around the central cloister, from which a series of buildings fan out: the abbey house, flanked by the monks’ distillery, where they made liqueurs; the chapter-house, with its columns
and ribbed vault, typical of French Gothic architecture; the dispensarium, ancient warehouse used as a refectory; and lastly, the church, typical example of Cistercian Gothic architecture. After lunch, return to Rome and departure as planned.
