Santo Spirito, Cistercian monastery in Ocre, Italy
Santo Spirito is a Cistercian monastery in Ocre featuring fortified walls and minimal openings that served defensive purposes. The buildings display typical monastic architecture with a church positioned on the northern side and residential and service wings flanking it.
The monastery was founded in 1226 and operated under the oversight of its mother abbey, Santa Maria Casanova, until dissolution in 1692. Its centuries-long operation demonstrates the sustained influence and presence of the Cistercian order across the region.
The monastery embodies Cistercian spiritual principles through its careful spatial layout, with the church facing north and residential and service buildings arranged symmetrically around it. The stone chambers and cloisters remain spaces where visitors can sense the austere, inward-focused lifestyle the monks once practiced.
The monastery now serves as a venue for civil wedding ceremonies in its former church halls and stone chambers, with coordination services available for event planning. Visitors should plan ahead and contact the site directly to clarify details about access and available spaces.
A terrace at the monastery offers direct views of the Gran Sasso mountain range, framing the site within a dramatic natural landscape. A Michelin-starred chef oversees the culinary services, bringing refined food to an otherwise secluded monastic setting.
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