Certosa di Padula, Carthusian monastery in Cilento National Park, Italy
The Charterhouse occupies a wide area with three cloisters and a vast courtyard, surrounded by multi-story wings that house monks' cells, service rooms, and a library. The complex also includes a church with baroque decoration, gardens arranged in geometric patterns, and underground vaults once used for storage.
Tommaso Sanseverino founded the Charterhouse in 1306 and dedicated it to Saint Lawrence, with the layout recalling the saint's martyrdom. Over the centuries, successive building campaigns expanded and decorated the site, especially during the 17th and 18th centuries, when baroque elements were added.
The monastery houses the Archaeological Museum of Western Lucania, preserving artifacts from excavations in Sala Consilina and Padula dating from Protohistory to Hellenistic periods.
Visitors can explore the entire complex on foot, moving through multiple levels and outdoor courtyards, so comfortable shoes are helpful. Guided tours help with orientation between different sections and explain the function of the various rooms.
One of the cloisters is among the largest of its kind in the world and is surrounded by 84 columns that cast gentle shadows in the sunlight. Upstairs, a spiral staircase made of white marble leads to the former library, which visitors often overlook.
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