Monastery of St. Scholastica — Local services in Subiaco

Magical. Must visit if in the area.

In the early 6th century Benedict of Nursia, a man from a well-to-do family who was educated at Rome, retired to a grotto near an ancient Roman Villa in Subiaco, in the mountains of north Latium (Lazio). His reputation as a spiritual guide quickly drew disciples to him there, including many of his old Roman friends, who also settled in the area. Over the years, no fewer than thirteen monastic communities arose around Subiaco, including the one that would come to be named for St. Scholastica, Benedict's sister and herself a monastic. Eventually, seeking greater solitude, Benedict would retire to Monte Cassino, where the same process would be repeated.

In the 9th century, St. Scholastica's Abbey was twice destroyed by the Saracens, in 828-829 and 876–877. But it was restored, and grew in the tenth century thanks to the patronage and favour of several popes, many of whom were, in fact, Benedictine monks.

As for monastic establishments throughout Europe, the 11th and 12thcenturies were a golden age for the abbey, when it boasted vast lands, a large number of monks, and elaborate, ornate liturgy. With economic power came political power as well. In the thirteenth century, a sanctuary was erected over the cave where St. Benedict had dwelt, the Sacro Speco or "Holy Cave".

Riches also brought covetousness, and the abbey's prestige brought it enemies. Long power struggles with the feudal establishment weakened the abbey, and decadence set in when Calixtus III made Juan de Torquemada (uncle of the famous inquisitor) commendatory abbot. Subsequently, powerful families tied to the papacy controlled it. Rodrigo Borgia (later the infamous Alexander VI) held the commendatory abbacy in 1467. The Colonna (1492), Borghese (1608), and Barberini (1633) families would also gain control of its revenues. Some took their ownership of the abbey seriously and tried to restore it, but most were content to exploit its revenues, sometimes without even ever visiting the monastery. The spiritual well-being of the monks was...

Dopo aver visto il saceospeco di San Benedetto e dopo aver pranzato a Subiaco, siamo tornati a visitare il Monastero di Santa Scolastica l’unico sopravvissuto ai terremoti e alle distruzioni saracene, che, sino alla fine del XII secolo, fu il solo monastero di Subiaco.In origine si chiamava “Monastero di San Silvestro”, successivamente (IX secolo) fu detto “Monastero di San Benedetto e di Santa Scolastica” e nel XIV secolo prese il nome attuale. È un complesso di edifici costruiti in epoche e stili diversi: un ingresso, sul quale figura la scritta “Ora et Labora”, con strutture del XX secolo, introduce nel primo chiostro o “Chiostro Rinascimentale” del secolo XVI, dal quale si passa in un secondo chiostro o “Chiostro Gotico” del secolo XIV ed, infine, in un terzo, detto “Chiostro Cosmatesco”, del secolo XIII. Il Campanile è del XII secolo e la Chiesa attuale è della fine del 1700, attualmente non visitabile poichè in regime di ristrutturazione. Il monastero ebbe il periodo di maggiore splendore tra il secolo XI e il secolo XIII. Nel 1465 i due chierici tedeschi A. Pannartz e C. Sweynheym vi impiantarono la prima tipografia italiana, che arricchì la Biblioteca, già esistente, di incunaboli e di libri di grande valore. La Biblioteca è oggi situata sul lato nord del Chiostro Gotico. Il monastero di Santa Scolastica si trova ad est di Subiaco, a 510 metri di altezza, ed è disposto longitudinalmente e parallelamente alla valle, dove, per secoli, vissero nella contemplazione e nella preghiera, eremiti e monaci. Prepararata la guida concessa che ha dato spiegazione...

A majestic place! Stupendous! Definitely visit the next time you are in Italy. Wonderfully preserved and so much art and history to be seen in both monasteries. In a day, you can visit both monasteries, Nero's villa which is spread in the valley below Santa Scolastica, the town of Subiaco with it's castle and wonderfully preserved medieval bridge, and various other roman ruins...