Chiaravalle Milanese Monastery
| Chiaravalle Milanese Cistercian Abbey | |
|---|---|
 Forecourt of the church |
|
| location |
Italy Lombardy Region Metropolitan City of Milan |
| Lies in the diocese | Milan |
| Coordinates: | 45 ° 25 '1.7 " N , 9 ° 14' 27.5" E |
| Serial number according to Janauschek |
93 |
| Patronage | Assumption Day |
| founding year | 1135 |
| Year of dissolution / annulment |
1798 |
| Year of repopulation | 1952 |
| Mother monastery | Clairvaux Monastery |
| Primary Abbey | Clairvaux |
| Congregation | San Bernardo d'Italia |
|
Daughter monasteries |
Cerreto |
The monastery Chiaravalle Milanese ( Latin Sanctæ Mariæ Clarævallis Mediolanensis ), also Santa Maria di Rovegnano, is a Cistercian abbey in Lombardy ( Italy ). Today it is located in the urban area of Milan between the districts of Vigentino and Rogoredo, not far from the motorway to Florence .
history
The monastery was founded in 1135 as a direct subsidiary of the Clairvaux Primary Abbey (according to other information, however, by Cîteaux ) by Bernhard von Clairvaux himself. The motive was probably the strengthening of the position of Pope Innocent II against the antipope Anaklet II. In 1138 it is mentioned for the first time as an abbey . Due to important foundations from Milan, the monastery quickly developed into the most important Cistercian settlement in Northern Italy. The monasteries of Cerreto , Chiaravalle di Fiastra and Follina were soon subordinated to him or founded by him . In 1236 the Capolago monastery was also subordinated to him. The church, construction of which began between 1150 and 1160, was consecrated in 1221. In 1443 the abbey was given in the near future . Commendate abbots included the later Popes Julius II and Clement VII. In 1494, Chiaravalle Milanese was organizationally united with San Ambrogio in Milan. In 1497 it joined the Italian Cistercian Congregation. During the Renaissance period , it was decorated by numerous artists, including Bernardino Luini and Fiammenghini . In 1798 the abbey was abolished by the Cisalpine Republic , but a Cistercian priory was established again in 1952 and Stefano Zanolini was appointed abbot on September 16, 2017. Part of the complex, including the large cloister by Donato Bramante and the novices' area, was demolished when the Milan – Genoa railway was built in 1860. In 1894 the facility was purchased by the Milanese monument protection authority. Restoration work has been carried out since then.
Plant and buildings
The monastery complex is closed in the west by the gate. This is followed by the foreign building and the women's chapel. In front of the abbey church (Santa Maria Assunta) there is a large forecourt. The approximately 63 m long church is a cruciform brick basilica based on a Bernhardine plan, which is surmounted by the huge, 56 m high octagonal crossing tower with four tapering storeys from the early 14th century. The church has a rectangular main choir and three side chapels, which have just closed, on the east side of the lateral arms of the transept. The nave has four bays with bays on massive round pillars (although a barrel vault was initially planned), the side aisles adjoin in the bound system. The baroque changes of the 17th century have largely been eliminated. The convent buildings adjoin the church to the south. In the east wing is the nine-bay chapter house, which was heavily modified in the 16th century. The Gothic refectory is located in the south wing. The conversion building in the west wing has been largely changed. It was separated from the cloister by a monastery alley. The early Gothic cloister has been preserved except for the new south wing. It was vaulted with ribbed vaults towards the end of the 13th century.
Frescoes in the crossing dome
In 2010, after a renovation period of ten years, the frescoes on the dome were presented to the public again. In addition to the Saints Girolamo , Augustine , Gregory and Ambrose, they show the four apostles, spanned by a star-studded sky. Furthermore, scenes from the legend of Mary from the coronation of Mary to the Annunciation are shown. The style of the frescoes is described by some experts as that of the Giotto school .
literature
- Balduino Gustavo Bedini: Breve prospetto delle Abbazie Cistercensi d'Italia , o. O. (Casamari), 1964, pp. 21-22, without ISBN
- Anselme Dimier : L'art cistercien hors de France , Zodiaque, La Pierre-qui-vire 1971, pp. 32–33, without ISBN, with a plan of the church
- P. Caccin: L'Abbazia di Chiaravalle milanese - Il Monastero e la Chiesa - Storia e Arte , Moneta, Milan 1979
- Heinz Schomann: Reclam's Art Guide Italy I, 1 , Philipp Reclam jun., Stuttgart 1981, pp. 369–373, ISBN 3-15-010305-3
