The Monastery of Saint Scholastica is located to the east of the city of Subiaco and was originally known as Monastery of Saint Sylvester, but in the 9th century it was renamed Monastery of the Saints Benedict and Scholastica. In the 14th century Benedict was dropped and it became simply the Monastery of Saint Scholastica.
Monastery of Saint Scholastica Subiaco
Useful information
Address: Piazzale Santa Scolastica, 1 – Subiaco. Phone: +39 0774 85569. Opening times: From 09:00 till 12:15 and from 15:30 till 18:30.
History and description
Until the end of the 12th century it was the only monastery in Subiaco, being the only one of the 12 monasteries planned by Saint Benedict that had survived the various earthquakes (and Saracene sackings).
The monastery presents itself as a complex of buildings that were constructed in various epochs.
- The 20th century entrance has the words “Ora et Labora” written on it.
- This entrance leads to, first, the 16th century Renaissance cloister, then to the 14th century Gothic cloister and finally to the 13th century Cosmatesque cloister.
- The famous library of Saint Scholastica is found on the east side of the Cosmatesque cloister.
- The bell-tower stems from the 12th century.
- The present church was built at the end of the 18th century and is the last one of no fewer than 5 churches that have stood here in the course of the centuries.
The Monastery of Saint Scholastica experienced its peak between the 11th and 13th centuries, when a.o. the first Italian books were printed here, by the Germans Pannartz and Sweynheym.