Santa Maria delle Cacce, building in Pavia, Italy
Santa Maria delle Cacce is a monastery in Pavia located near the old city walls, standing on a small hill. The site features a small church with 16th-century frescoes, an open cloister with stone arcades, and remnants of the original Lombard structure, including a crypt with three interconnected rooms beneath the church.
The monastery was founded in the 8th century by King Rachis or Desiderio and initially housed Benedictine nuns. Its name changed in the 14th century from Santa Maria foris portam to Santa Maria delle Cacce, as it lay outside the city walls, and underwent major rebuilding particularly in the 17th century.
The monastery was closely linked to local churches and served as a spiritual center for the surrounding communities. The Benedictine nuns who lived here for centuries shaped the religious life of nearby villages and lands.
The site is easily accessible within Pavia near other historical locations. The church and monastery grounds have been closed to visitors for some time, but local authorities are planning restoration work to reopen the site to the public.
The name Cacce means hunt and recalls that the monastery stood near a royal hunting ground used by Lombard kings. Excavations in 1979 uncovered portions of the Lombard crypt and revealed original construction techniques that differed from Roman methods.
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