One of the most splendid examples of Cistercian architecture where even today you can breathe an atmosphere that seems to have remained suspended in the peace of the Middle Ages.
The Chiaravalle Abbey built starting from 1135, thanks to the will of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, was consecrated in 1221
Known not only for its historical and artistic importance, but also for the role that the Cistercian monks had in the development of agriculture in the area.
Known for their work in clearing and draining marshes, introducing modern agricultural practices based on a system of large farms called grange
Visible from a great distance thanks to its monumental Torre nolare, the so-called Ciribiciaccola, it is one of the first examples of Gothic architecture in Italy.
Despite the destruction, the complex is still able to arouse great emotion: the interior of the Abbey preserves the famous Madonna della Buonanotte by Luini, as well as some interesting pieces of a fourteenth-century fresco cycle of the Giotto school, among the most refined in the Milanese area.
Inside, the 14th-century frescoes are admirable, while the Clock Tower, some parts of the choir and the renovation of the Apse Chapels date back to the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Abbey of Chiaravalle can be visited by taking part in guided tours that allow you to see the Church and Cloister, the Chapel of San Bernardo and the Mill.
At the Abbey Restaurant, you can taste the monks’ products.
The guided tour of Chiaravalle Abbey will end with a visit to the Sacristy, the suggestive thirteenth-century Cloister and the Chapter Room, where you can admire graffiti depicting views of Milan attributed to Bramante, in a fascinating journey through the centuries, to give yourself half a day of authentic peace away from the frenzy of the city.
The Library, preserved today in the Monastery of Santa Maria di Chiaravalle, has about 25,000 volumes, some ancient and some modern, with specialized magazines and texts in the monastic field. The library participates in the National Library Service (SBN) and is included in the Polo delle Biblioteche Ecclesiastiche (PBE) where you can find information and contacts.
In the Cemetery of the Abbey is buried Guglielma the Bohemian, a 13th-century healer around whom a real religious cult had grown.
When the Church discovered this movement, the Inquisition condemned some followers to the stake and burned the remains of the healer, removing her tomb.
From the Abbey website it is possible to book a guided tour organized by the Koiné cooperative.
Via Sant’Arialdo 102
Milan
Lombardy – Italy
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