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Located in the beautiful Umbrian countryside just outside Assisi, San Damiano is simple and understated a welcome contrast from the large, crowded memorials to St. Francis in town.

Quiet and peaceful San Damiano Convent is where it all began

By • Catholic Online • 11/1/2011

San Damiano Convent is the birthplace of all holy sites in Assisi. It is the holy ground where St. Francis first received his miraculous calling in 1205 and where St. Clare died in 1253. A visit to the plain and understated convent is an absolute must-see on any pilgrimage to the Franciscan holy ...

The south portal, framed with reliefs of foliage, geometrical designs and mythological animals, dates from the 10th century. The church is entered through the west portal, with decorations and lion statues of the 12th century.

Founded by Charlemagne, Sant'Antimo Abbey is a must see for Tuscany tourists

By • Catholic Online • 10/26/2011

The gorgeous Sant'Antimo Abbey is a must-see for anyone visiting Tuscany in Italy. Located not far from Siena, the abbey church is an elegant Romanesque edifice of the early 12th century. Gregorian chants, that have resonated within the stone structure for centuries can be heard from inside ...

Visit the Faithful Monks of Casamari Abbey

By • Catholic Online • 10/22/2011

The Abbey of Casamari (Abbazia di Casamari) is a 13th-century active Cistercian monastery southeast of Rome, in the Italian region of Lazio. ROME, ITALY (Catholic Online) - The Abbey of Casamari was built between 1203 and 1217 AD. A Benedictine monastery occupied the spot previously, but ...

The southeast corner leads behind the church to the Chapel of St. Thomas, which incorporates the hostel where St. Thomas Aquinas stayed and died in 1274.

Abbey of Fossanova seen as magnificent example of Cistercian architecture

By • Catholic Online • 10/13/2011

The Abbey of Fossanova is a Cistercian abbey with a beautiful church and peaceful cloisters. Considered a magnificent example of Cistercian architecture, reflecting what Clairvaux was like than the original site itself, which has sadly become a high-security prison. Its architectural style ...

Marienberg is Europe's highest abbey at 4,400 ft and was built in the Baroque style with some Romanesque elements, and has some well-preserved frescoes.

Marienberg is world's highest abbey at 4,400 feet

By • Catholic Online • 10/5/2011

Marienberg Abbey, also known as Abbazia Monte Maria and Kloster Marienberg is a Benedictine abbey in Italy in the South Tyrol region. Founded in 1150, the abbey has a long tradition of education. Marienberg is Europe's highest abbey at 4,400 ft and was built in the Baroque style with some ...

The basilica, richly decorated in stucco and mosaics, enshrines the relics of St. Benedict and his sister, St. Scholastica, which survived the bombings in World War II.

Rebuilt after WW II, Montecassino Monastery remains a testament to St. Benedict

By • Catholic Online • 10/2/2011

Founded by St. Benedict in 529 AD, Montecassino Monastery has had a long and troubled history, suffering from repeated attacks, pillaging and natural disasters. The site of a bloody battle during World War II that cost hundreds of lives coupled with the complete destruction of the monastic ...

In this cave St. Benedict used to instruct shepherds of the neighborhood in the truths of the faith.

The Monastery of St. Benedict encourages visitors to pray at Benedict's cave

By • Catholic Online • 9/27/2011

Surrounded by bountiful natural beauty, the Monastery of St. Benedict in Subiaco in Italy enshrines the cave in which St. Benedict lived as a hermit before he organized his first monastic community. Subiaco is located southeast of Rome. The monastery, while still active welcomes visitors to ...

The detached rectangular cemetery chapel, highly picturesque among fields on the north side, dates from the 13th century.

San Galgano Abbey remains amazingly intact today

By • Catholic Online • 9/21/2011

The Abbey of San Galgano was founded by Cistercian monks from Casamari Abbey in the 13th century. Dedicated to St. Galganus, the abbey was constructed around 1224-88. While most of the surrounding grounds have suffered decay, the abbey remains amazingly intact in the present day. LOS ...

Among the several notable Angevin tombs in the church, there is the one for Robert the Wise by Florentine artists Giovanni and Pacio Bertini; Charles, Duke of Calabria, the son of Robert the Wise by Tino da Camaino; and Mary of Calabria the youngest daughter of Charles.

Santa Chiara in Naples survived Allied bombing to greet visitors in modern day

By • Catholic Online • 9/21/2011

Santa Chiara, one of the largest and most important churches in Naples, Italy was founded in 1310 by Robert the Wise. The church interior was given a Baroque makeover in 1742-57, which was regrettably destroyed by an Allied bomb at the height of World War II in August, 1943. Santa Chiara ...

The Carmo Convent was initially inhabited by Carmelites from Moura, which entered the convent in 1392. In 1404, the pious �lvares Pereira donated his wealth to the convent and, in 1423, he also became a brother of the convent.

Graceful archways prominent feature of Convento do Carmo

By • Catholic Online • 9/14/2011

Once Lisbon's greatest convent, the Convento do Carmo was severely damaged in Portugal's 1755 earthquake. Open-air summer orchestral concerts are held beneath its majestic archways today. The convent is an evocative ruin and part of the Museu Arqueol�gico do Carmo. Its ruined Gothic nave, ...