Staffarda Abbey, Religious museum in Revello, Italy
Staffarda Abbey is a monastery complex in Revello with a three-aisled church, a square cloister, and multiple functional rooms including a sacristy, chapter house, and refectory across two levels. The building structure follows Romanesque style and was designed to support a self-sufficient community.
Cistercian monks founded the abbey in 1135 on infertile land donated by Marquis Manfredo I. Over the centuries, the monks became skilled farmers who transformed the land into a productive agricultural operation.
The abbey displays building forms shaped by Cistercian simplicity, with bare stone and brick reflecting a monastic way of life. This plain, unadorned design expressed the monks' commitment to restraint and focus on spiritual matters.
The grounds are open to visitors on weekdays and weekends, though opening hours vary seasonally. It helps to check current times in advance, especially if traveling from a distance.
A highlight is a painted altarpiece from 1531 by Pascale Oddone featuring ornate wooden statues and gilded details. The artwork shows the craftsmanship and artistic sophistication that marked the abbey during the late medieval period.
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