Territorial Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata, Territorial abbey in Grottaferrata, Italy.
The Territorial Abbey of Santa Maria di Grottaferrata is a monastery south of Rome with its own church and stone buildings arranged around cloisters. Inside, it houses a photo archive, restoration workshop, and a large collection of historical manuscripts spanning multiple centuries.
The monastery was founded in 1004 by Nilo of Rossano, a saint of the Eastern Church, on land with ancient connections. Over centuries, it grew into a major center for Byzantine traditions in Italy.
The abbey maintains the Italo-Albanian Eastern Christian ritual through its daily liturgical celebrations and monastic prayer life. You can observe the monks conducting services according to Byzantine traditions in the church.
The abbey is located at Corso del Popolo 128 with parking available and guided tours offered during opening hours. Visitors should wear respectful clothing and remember this is an active place of prayer and religious practice.
This monastery is the sole survivor from a network of daughter foundations that once spread across Sicily and Calabria. This rarity makes it a striking reminder of how widely Byzantine influence once extended through southern Italy.
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