Abbey of San Cassiano, Narni, Benedictine monastery on Monte Santa Croce in Narni, Italy.
Abbey of San Cassiano is a Benedictine monastery located on the slopes of Monte Santa Croce, featuring fortified walls with crenellations that create a fortress-like appearance. The church inside has a Greek cross plan with four wide arches opening toward three apses.
Records from 1091 show that the monastery was under the control of the Abbey of Farfa, but older inscriptions suggest it was founded much earlier. The exact origins of this religious community stretch back further into the medieval period.
The church interior shows Byzantine architectural touches with four wide arches and three apses that reflect how medieval monastic communities built their prayer spaces. This style was common for Benedictine houses across the region.
The monastery can be reached by hiking a three-hour trail that starts at Palazzo dei Priori and crosses the Nera river to reach the mountain summit. The path is accessible only on foot and requires moderate fitness.
Inside the abbey stands a first-century sarcophagus linked to the figure of Blessed Orso, discovered during the era of Pope John XIII. This object reveals a direct connection to early Christian veneration at this mountain site.
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