Chiaravalle Abbey, Fiastra, Cistercian abbey in Tolentino, Italy
Chiaravalle Abbey at Fiastra is a Cistercian monastery in Tolentino featuring a Romanesque-Burgundian church laid out in a Latin cross shape. The church has a three-span nave with decorated pilasters dividing the central aisle from the side aisles.
The monastery was founded in 1142 by Duke Guarnerio II of Spoleto and was built partly from stones of the Roman settlement Urbs Salvia. This establishment represented a significant moment for spreading Cistercian monasticism across the region.
The monastery was established by Cistercian monks and remains tied to their contemplative religious tradition. The layout and design reflect the simple, disciplined way of life that this order practiced.
An adjacent nature reserve established in 1984 allows visitors to explore both the religious structures and the surrounding natural landscape. Walking paths wind through the grounds, offering ways to experience the site at a relaxed pace.
At the center of the cloister stands a monumental well connected to a rainwater cistern, serving as a quiet focal point in the meditative courtyard. This construction reveals how the monastery carefully managed water and wove it into its spiritual design.
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