Monastero di Camaldoli, Camaldolese monastery in Poppi, Italy
The Monastero di Camaldoli is a monastic complex at 818 metres above sea level near the Archiano river, three kilometres from the Hermitage of Camaldoli in the municipality of Poppi. It comprises the old hospice or guesthouse, the church of San Donato and Sant'Ilariano, and the monastery, whose sober buildings are grouped around a central cloister with round arches on Ionic capitals on its sunny south and west sides.
The complex grew from a small hospital built by the monks near the church from 1046. Construction of the present monastery began in the 16th century, enlarging the cloister and absorbing the hospice, and was finished in 1611. In July 1943 it hosted the meetings that produced the Codice di Camaldoli.
The community belongs to the Camaldolese Order, founded by Romuald, which took its name from this monastery. The complex includes the church of San Donato and Sant'Ilariano, the old hospice and the monastery. In July 1943 the monastery hosted the meetings that produced the Codice di Camaldoli.
The complex sits at 818 m by a branch of the Archiano river, 3 km from the Camaldoli Hermitage in the comune of Poppi. The old hospice, or foresteria, the church and the monastery make up the complex, so allow time to move between them. The monastery stands on the valley floor, not on a peak, and the hermitage is a separate site reached by a road of a few kilometres.
The monastery sheltered about a hundred works from the Uffizi Gallery from 30 October 1940. During the German occupation of 1943–45, prior Antonio Buffadini prevented their removal by using his knowledge of German and the Vatican flag flown over the building.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,123 contributors worldwide.