Grottaferrata, Ancient Benedictine abbey town in Alban Hills, Italy
Grottaferrata is a town in the Alban Hills southeast of Rome, built around a Benedictine monastery that anchors the community. The settlement spreads across rolling terrain, with the monastery complex and its church as the defining structures of the place.
The monastery was founded in 1004 when a local nobleman gave a former Roman villa to Saint Nilus the Younger. This act made the site a spiritual center that remained important for the region across the following centuries.
The monastery follows Greek-Byzantine traditions that shape its daily worship and religious practices. Visitors notice the Eastern influence in the church decorations and rituals that still guide community life today.
The town sits on the slopes of the Alban Hills and connects easily to Rome by bus or train. Visitors can explore the area on foot, with local paths around the monastery offering good starting points for walks.
The monastery library holds an extensive collection of medieval manuscripts and old books that reveal the Byzantine roots of the community. This collection draws scholars studying the crossroads between Eastern and Western traditions.
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