Abbey of Santa Croce di Fonte Avellana

No consideration of the monastery of S. Croce di Fonte Avellana can disregard an assessment of the mystical figures of St. Romuald and St. Peter Damian. The charm of this monument is not independent of the pleasantness of the site where it stands (on the slopes of Monte Catria, in the municipality of Serra S. Abbondio), just as the mystical atmosphere felt when visiting the monastic complex is not independent of the spiritual influence that its founder wished to convey by having a monastery built (not only the church) consistent with his thought: “superbia oculum” was what he called overly showy beauty, to which he opposed architectural sobriety and efficiency. According to scholars, part of the old cloister was incorporated, in some stretches, into the 12th-century rebuilding. The present church is also the result of substantial work in the 17th century, as well as of the removal of Baroque frills carried out in 1939 and 1950. It is held that the original church of Peter Damian's time underwent rebuilding and enlargement around the turn of the 12th century, which involved, besides the church, other monastic buildings as well. The year of the church's consecration is certain: 1197. The building consecrated in that year would survive today in the single nave with projecting transept, covered by barrel vaults with segmental arches. The presbytery is greatly raised, while the original semicircular apse was demolished in 1832 and replaced by the present elongated choir (recent excavations have established that the original apse followed the outer walls of the apse of the crypt below). And it is in the crypt that the sober and balanced spirit intended by Peter Damian can best be perceived. It consists of three bays with cross vaults and round transverse arches. It is generally dated to the time of Peter Damian (around the second half of the 11th century). Doubts about such an early date arise from an assessment of the masterly laying of the stones, so some would prefer to place this refined masonry in the late 12th century, at the time of the rebuilding or shortly before it. Note the absence, in the central altar of the crypt, of the consecration relic). Scriptorium is a hall oriented north–south and designed to “follow” the movement of the sun, so as to provide the greatest brightness at any hour of the day and season of the year. The ray of light that strikes the floor from the central window to the south indicates the seasons of the year (months), while the rays entering through the tall side single-light windows (6 to the east and 7 to the west) indicate, again on the floor, the hour of the day. Looking at the central strip running from the entrance door to the central south window, when the light strikes the point nearest the entrance, this indicates the lowest point of the sun on the horizon (winter, 21 December). The opposite point of the room, the furthest from the entrance and closest instead to the window, will be lit on 21 June, when the sun reaches its highest point on the horizon. Chapter house A barrel-vaulted, dimly lit room with only three windows. Traces of 14th-century frescoes. The tourist guide pointed out the excellent acoustics of this room.