Abbey of Santa Maria in Castagnola

The Abbey of Santa Maria in Castagnola, an elegant abbey complex located in Chiaravalle in the province of Ancona, was built by Cistercian monks around 1172 on the remains of a pre-existing Benedictine monastery destroyed by the Saracens. The name “In Castagnola” derives from the dense oak forest, called “selva di castagnola”, that once stretched south of Chiaravalle. Founded in the 12th century, the abbey is a remarkable example of Romanesque architecture in Italy, although its interior is Gothic in style. In past centuries, it was of crucial importance for the birth and development of the town of Chiaravalle, which grew up around it. Since 1985, the abbey lost its monastic function and was transformed into a parish seat, being included in the diocese of Senigallia, within the vicariate of Chiaravalle. Today, unexpectedly for a monastery, the church is located right in the centre of the town to which it gave its name. The façade is distinguished by its splendid Romanesque architecture, characterised by a central rose window with a “crooked” cross. The interior is divided into three naves, supported by twelve cruciform pillars, with Gothic arches and decorated arcades defining the spaces once reserved for the monks. Among the various masterpieces kept in the abbey, the “Baptism of Jesus”, dating back to the end of the 16th century, stands out. On the right side of the church is the cloister with the “Porta dei Monaci” (Monks' Door), reopened in 2016 after being walled up during the Napoleonic era in the 19th century. Although not the original, the door is the result of a fine design by the students of the Mannucci Institute, which skilfully blends ancient and modern elements, representing a passageway and a link between the sacred and the profane, between the clergy and the community. The Abbey of Chiaravalle is considered the soul and heart of the quiet town.