San Martino al Cimino Monastery

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Cistercian Abbey of San Martino al Cimino
Abbey church
Abbey church
location Italy
Region of Lazio
Viterbo
Lies in the diocese until 1936 exemte abbey ; today: Diocese of Viterbo
Coordinates: 42 ° 22 '3 "  N , 12 ° 7' 41"  E Coordinates: 42 ° 22 '3 "  N , 12 ° 7' 41"  E
Serial number
according to Janauschek 		317
Patronage St. Martin
founding year 1150 /1207
Year of dissolution /
annulment 		1564
Mother monastery Saint-Sulpice monastery
Primary Abbey Pontigny monastery

Daughter monasteries

no

the monastery from above

The monastery of San Martino al Cimino (Latin Abbatia Sancti Martini ad Montem Ciminum ) is a former exemte Cistercian abbey in Lazio , Italy . It is located in the district of San Martino al Cimino of the city of Viterbo in the province of the same name , around 6 km south of the center of Viterbo, on the northern edge of the Monti Cimini , on the pilgrimage route Via Francigena .

history

The church of San Martino on Monte Farfa was first mentioned in 838 when it was donated to the Abbot of Farfa. A small Benedictine convent developed around the church , which was soon moved to the place of the later monastery. The monastery was founded in 1145 by Pope Eugene III. handed over to the Cistercian order, whose monastery Saint-Sulpice in the French department of Ain sent a founding convention in 1150. As the founding attempt failed, was made in 1207 can be placed under the Branch Pontigny whose filiation also belonged to Saint-Sulpice. In the same year Pontigny sent a new convent under Abbot Pietro. The reconstruction of the monastery was tackled with equipment by Pope Innocent II , but this dragged on until the end of the century. During this time the abbey received extensive exemption from the diocesan bishop. In 1225 the (probably still unfinished) church was consecrated. The goods of the cloistered Santa Maria di Sala monastery were transferred to the monastery of San Martino al Cimino in 1257. The construction of the monastery was completed by 1305 at the latest. Around 1320 the monastery was sacked by Silvestro Gatti, Lord of Viterbo. In 1329 some monks returned. However, the monastery was given to Kommende in 1445 , which initially only lasted until 1452. However, as early as 1461 it fell back into the Coming and Commendatar abbot became the later Pope Pius III. In 1564 it was incorporated into the chapter of St. Peter in the Vatican, with which it remained until 1645 when Donna Olimpia Maidalchini Pamphilij , sister-in-law of Pope Innocent X , received it. As a result, the monastery was restored and the church's two facade towers and a palace were built. The private abbey existed as an independent territory until 1936 and was then incorporated into the diocese of Viterbo. Since then, the Bishop of Viterbo has held the title of Abbot of San Martino.

Plant and buildings

The church in the shape of a Latin cross, which was partially renovated in the 17th century, was probably started at the beginning of the 13th century. First the choir and the north transept were built. The nave has three aisles with four square bays in the central nave and eight rectangular bays in the side aisles. The transept has three bays with four rectangular chapels, two of which surround the pentagonal presbytery (unique in Cistercian architecture in Italy). The church is mainly vaulted with ribs. Only the foundation arches of the small roof turret over the crossing are preserved. The facade was flanked by two towers in the 17th century, probably also to stabilize it. In addition to a Gothic window, it also has the portal. Of the buildings of the enclosure to the north (left) of the church, essentially only the three-bay cross-vaulted chapter house, the two-aisled refectory and the remains of the cloister have survived after the building of the palace.

literature

  • Balduino Gustavo Bedini: Breve prospetto delle Abazie Cistercensi d'Italia. Dalla fondazione di Citeaux (1098) alla metà del secolo decimoquarto. Casamari, Rome 1964, pp. 55-57.

Web links

Commons : San Martino di Tours (San Martino al Cimino)  - Collection of images, videos and audio files