Abbazia di Staffarda (Revello)

Abbeys and churches

Abbazia di Staffarda (Revello)

Category: Abbeys and churches

Between 1135 and 1138 some monks from the Abbazia ligure di Tigliet’ (ligurian Abbey of Tiglieto), founded a church and, straight afterwards, their headquarters. It was built according to the wishes of the Marquis of Saluzzo, on an uncultivated piece of land called “la staffarla”. Following the Cistercian rule, the monks built a small “city” that comprises the church, the cloister, the refectory, the lay brothers’ building, the guest quarters, the covered market and the farmhouses. The entire complex was built on a slightly inclined axis, which allowed them to follow the rotation of the sun during the day. During the centuries Staffarda became an autonomous operational centre, able to produce enough goods both to cover internal needs and for external sale. From the XV century onwards, however, the community progressively declined, so much so that in 1750 the Holy See declared the autonomous abbey’s role to be over, and the complex was given to the the Order of St Maurice. The church has a nave and two aisles, and is a splendid example of Romanesque-Gothic style. The inside is austere, the cross vault and the pillars, all different from one another, are decorated with alternating colours, which go from red to grey. Above the high altar, visitors can admire a painted and golden XI century wooden polyptych, by Pascale Oddone. When it is opened, one can see scenes from the life of the Virgin; when it is closed, one can admire St Benedict, the archangel Gabriel, St Bernard from Clairvaux and the Virgin of the Annunciation.

Information

Piazza Roma - 12036 Revello (Cn)
Tel. +39.0175.273215
www.mauriziano.it

Abbazia di Staffarda