Abbazia di Pomposa, Romanesque abbey in Codigoro, Italy
Abbazia di Pomposa is a Romanesque complex in Codigoro featuring a tall basilica and a freestanding bell tower reaching 48 meters high. The grounds also include a museum, a former monastery building, and a rectangular courtyard enclosed by arcaded walkways with columns.
Benedictine monks founded the monastery in 801 on an island in the Po delta. The 11th century brought the height of the complex, when liturgical innovations were developed here and many pilgrims visited the site.
The name Pomposa comes from an ancient Roman settlement that once stood in this area. Visitors today recognize the importance of this place for Benedictine life through the preserved refectory with its wall paintings showing scenes from daily monastic routines.
A visit covers the church, tower, and museum, with the interior frescoes best viewed in natural morning light. Those wishing to climb the bell tower should wear sturdy shoes, as the staircase is narrow and steep.
In the former scriptorium worked Guido of Arezzo, inventor of modern musical notation with staff lines and solmization syllables. His method spread from here across Europe and changed how music was taught and learned.
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