Tour of The Abbey of Montecassino

            The original site of the Abbey of Montecassino was a temple dedicated to Apollo and in approximately 529 A.D.  St. Benedict founded the Montecassino Monastary and destroyed the temple to Apollo.  In 577, it was destroyed by the Logobards of Zotone but Pope Gregory II rebuilt it in 718 with the help of Abbot Petronax from Brescia.  In 787 Charlemagne visited the abbey and gave it privileges.  In 883 it was invaded by the Saracens, who killed the Founder of the medieval Cassino, Bertarius.  In the mid- tenth century Abbot Aligerno brought the monks back to the Abbey at Montecassino. 

            This is the virtual tour of monastic life and the current visual art of the Abbey of Montecassino.  It is set in the woods of Italy.  Here is the overview of the Abbey and an outline to our tour.  The tour begins in the beginning of the Abbey in the Entrance Cloister, where the statue of the Death of St. Benedict lies.  It was previously where the Temple of Apollo was placed.  Going forth from this place is another cloister called the Cloister of Bramante.  It was built in 1595 and measured 40m by 30 m.  It has an octagonal well in the center and on opposing sides are the statues of St. Benedict and St. Scolastica.  From this cloister, the monks can then go to the anti-portico of the upper Cloister.  From the upper cloister one can look at the Paradise Loggia.  After going through the anti-portico one arrives at the Benefactor’s Cloister with panels on the left featuring St. Benedict’s arrival at Montecassino, his converting of the place, and raising a child from the dead.  The lower ends of this cloister have the first destruction by the Longobards and the second destructions by the Saracens.  The right side has St. Benedict receiving Goth King Totila, ennobling farm work, as an evangelizer, and the spreading of monks like the spreading of disciples.  The bottom is the third destruction by earthquake in 1349 and fourth destruction by bombardment in 1944.  This cloister leads to the Refectory on the right, which also leads to the cells of the monks.  On the left is the museum, which preserves the works of the Abbey.  In the front through the middle door is the Basilica Cathedral, which is the most artistic artwork.  It was rebuilt in the 17-18th centuries by C. Fansago.  It is most famous for containing the remains and body of St. Benedict, himself.  This is the roof of the nave and these are some of the side chapels, such as The Glory of St. Benedict, the Chapel of John the Baptist.  It also contains artwork such as Peter being Freed from Jail, St. Vittore III as he receives from St. Benedict the Rule and Pastoral Letters, Madonna and Child, Blessed Sacrament, and Obedience.  Finally, it contains great archeological structures such as the Sacristy portal, the Entrance to the Crypt, the Center Vault, the Black Marble Portal, the Sepulchral Monument, the Dome of the basilica, and finally, the High Altar. 

            Since we cannot gain access to the St. Benedict Hall, this concludes our tour of the Abbey of Montecassino.  Have a nice day Dr. Raia, Judi, and Kim.