Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Abbadia Ardenga

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. The place seemed to be "private", so I knocked at some doors. Nobody was "at home". But then I found the door of the church open!! I had learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, and that the ancient crypt once run along the entire length of the church. It is now smaller, but still impressive. There are traces of floral decorations under the vaults.

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. The place seemed to be "private", so I knocked at some doors. Nobody was "at home". But then I found the door of the church open!! I had learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, but only the central nave still existed. If this is the nave, than the church must once have been have been a pretty wide basilica. In the right corner is a stair leading down to the crypt.

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II. I could seen the church and a few of the convents building from the dirt road, and learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, but only the central nave still existed. I knocked at some doors, but nobody was "at home", when I approached the church.