Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: Chiaravalle della Colomba

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". More changes have taken place. I would expect, that an abbey named "della Colomba" has a love for doves. I heard very load gunshots in erratic intervals, when I walked around the cloister. Then I found the cannon. It was installed to chase the flocks of doves away from the abbey´s roofs.

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". Maybe Bernard would have liked this carving (at least a little bit). Depicted in the center is (crowned) Mary, Jesus on her knees blesses the onlookers. They are flanked by (Cistercian) monks. Mary got very popular within the 12th century (see Senlis, Chartres..) - and Bernard was one of her strongest "supporters".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The monkey on the capital near the portal of the chapter room (previous upload) was already a surprise. Here is a second monkey, eating grapes (?) and bitten by snakes. To the right is a "Master of Beasts".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". Bernard would probably horrified by this monkey, a mooning "monstruositas".

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The portal of the monks chapter room open to the cloister, that is mirrored in the windowpane. Untypically for a Cistercian abbey is the architectural beauty - and the sculpted capitals.

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The corners of the cloisters have (tripel!) knotted pillars. The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The abbey has an estraordinary cloister added within the 13th century. At that time, the strict Cistercian soberity, still visible in the church´s interior, must have softened, as here are even sculpted capitals, or as Bernard of Clairvaux called them "ridicula monstruositas". The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The former abbey church has a nave and two aisles. It is 65 meters long and 20 meters wide. Following the Cistercian traditions the interior is very sober without any carved capitals. Bernard of Clairvaux did not like such works at all and called them "ridicula monstruositas". The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php

The "Abbazia di Chiaravalle della Colomba" was founded in 1136. It was one of the earliest Cistercian monasteries in Italy. It was a "filiation" of the famous abbey Clairvaux (and maybe even Bernard of Clairvaux was involved). "Chiaravalle" = "claravallis" - just like "Clairvaux". The abbey was sacked and burned in 1248 by Frederick II of Swabia (aka "Frederick the One-Eyed") during his siege of Parma. In 1805 Napoleon's rule led to suppression of the order. In 1810, properties were assigned to the Civil Hospital of Piacenza. The archives and library were sold. Cistercian monks returned in 1937 and by now the abbey has joint ownership with the state. The church was erected during the 12th and 13th centuries, but was refurbished during the 15th century. The belltower was added in the 16th century. The abbey has an informative website (in Italian) www.chiaravalledellacolomba.it/index.php