To stop at the Pomposa Abbey, ancient Benedictine monastery of the VI century, situated in the core of the Po river delta, it means to immerse yourself in history. The basilica’s entrance, the bell tower, the frescoes of the refectory, those of the chapter house and of the church seems to speak. It seems that they want to tell us about centuries of history: the constant struggle between man and water, the continuous chase of nature and culture, the life of Benedictine monks and the artistic explosion of ‘300.
For those who love art, the Pomposa Abbey is a must-see. Entering the soul of this architectonic monument it means to leave behind the traffic of the street and modern civilization, put yourself in a magic place’s hands where the time seems to be signed by the sound of the bell. As soon as you turn the path that from the parking leads to the Abbey, the bell tower will catch your eyes : majestic and elegant.
A masterpiece of the Romanesque art, the monastery risen up between the VI and the VII century on the “Pomposa” island surrounded by the branches of the river Po and by the sea. Here the monks, in the quiet of the woods, dedicate themselves to prayer and work, following Saint Benedict order. After the XI century, the Abbey reached the peak of fame and magnificence, becoming a well-known centre of spirituality and culture under the guidance of Saint Guy. Unique and charming personality, who could give the monastery a new life, enlarging it and commissioning the building of the atrium : an open-air framework. The vitality and the culture of this place were crucial for Guido Monaco, the revolutionary inventor of the composition of the notes within the staff, better known as Guido d’Arezzo which in this place defined the musical note system.
Through the “Palazzo della Ragione”, the museum itinerary lead us in spaces where the Benedictine monks spent their time : refectory, dormitory (that now is the “Pomposa” museum), ‘sala delle stilate’, chapter house and church. The frescoes of the refectory, of the chapter house, of the church, are a proof history, art and religion. For example, the “La cena di San Guido” a part of the fresco of the majestic wall of the refectory reveal the necessity of identify the religious narration in the “Pomposa” reality.
Old Testament, New Testament, Apocalypse, Crack of Doom : this is the sequence of frescoes that greet us entering the church. The magnificence of the particulars barely fading from memory.
Take time to visit the Abbey.
