Monastero di Santa Cristina, Monastery in Santa Cristina e Bissone

The Monastero di Santa Cristina is a former Benedictine monastery in Santa Cristina e Bissone, in the Pavese. Three U-shaped buildings stand on the alluvial terrace sloping toward the Po, with two square towers: one holds a bifora incorporating 8th- and 9th-century columns and capitals, the other a large bifora with 14th-century Gothic terracotta mouldings and traces of battlements.

Founded by King Liutprando in the first half of the 8th century near his palace at Corteolona, the Benedictine house was first dedicated to Sant'Anastasio. From the 9th century, as Santa Cristina, it received lands across nine comitati and the court of Chignolo Po. Given in commenda in the 15th century, it was suppressed in 1513 and handed to Vallombrosan monks; the final suppression came in 1654.

The monastery was first dedicated to Sant'Anastasio and only from the 9th century took the name Santa Cristina. Its fortified walls sheltered pilgrims travelling the via Francigena, and a letter of King Carloman records that they could find rest and refuge within the enclosure. In 990 the Archbishop of Canterbury, Sigerico, stayed here.

The complex stands in the southern part of Santa Cristina, on the alluvial terrace sloping down toward the Po, along the Via Francigena. Three U-shaped buildings and two square towers survive; the church was demolished in the 19th century, and its pointed brick arches and a walled-up rose window are set into the other buildings. The area has never been excavated, so there is no ruin walk to follow.

The site served more than a religious purpose, as fortification work in the 9th century with towers shows it also functioned as a defensive post offering protection to pilgrims. This dual role as both monastery and fortress remains visible in the stone structures that survive today.