Sant'Anna in Camprena, Renaissance monastery in Pienza, Italy
Sant'Anna in Camprena is a Renaissance-era Benedictine monastery on a hillside near Pienza, with stone walls and a bell tower set among cypress trees and farmland. Its buildings display the practical design typical of the period, reflecting how monks lived and worked daily.
The monastery was founded in 1324 and served as a spiritual center for the Olivetan branch of the Benedictine order. It remained active for centuries, eventually taking on new roles while maintaining its monastic roots.
The church is dedicated to Saint Anne, mother of Mary, and was consecrated in 1517. The monastery was suppressed in 1784 and the monks' building became the parish house; in 1833 the parish counted 108 inhabitants. Since the late 20th century the complex has been an agriturismo run by the diocese of Montepulciano-Chiusi-Pienza, while the church remains the seat of the parish of Sant'Anna in Camprena.
The location sits on a hillside and requires some climbing effort, but the elevated position offers views in all directions. Today it operates as an agriturismo with lodging and dining, so visitors stopping by should inquire about access options.
The refectory frescoes are by Antonio Bazzi, called Il Sodoma, painted around 1503-1504; the church holds a painted copy of one of them above the left transept altar. In 1996 Anthony Minghella filmed scenes of The English Patient inside the monastery.
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