Abbazia S. Maria di Montevergine

Welcome to the Abbey of Santa Maria di Montevergine, a beloved Benedictine sanctuary perched on the heights of Mount Partenio in Campania, where faith, history, and breathtaking beauty have attracted pilgrims for centuries. The sanctuary is home to the venerated icon of the Madonna di Montevergine.

In the early decades of the 12th century, Saint William of Vercelli arrived at Montevergine, after a long journey to some of the most important sanctuaries of the time. Returning from Santiago de Compostela, he wished to go to the Holy Land, but he stopped in Irpinia to live as a hermit. His reputation for holiness attracted disciples and faithful, giving rise to a new religious family. In 1124, he built a church on the mountain in honor of the Mother of God and later founded other monasteries in southern Italy, ending his earthly life in 1142 at the Abbey of San Salvatore del Goleto, in the territory of Sant’Angelo dei Lombardi (AV). His mortal remains returned to Montevergine in 1807. On June 25, 1942, on the occasion of the eighth centenary of his death, Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the principal patron of Irpinia. The abbey was united with the Congregation of Subiaco on February 1, 1879, and assigned to the Italian Province on June 15, 1958. Since the time of its founder, the famous sanctuary in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Montevergine, has been annexed to the monastery. The Abbey is a layered architectural complex accessible via a 16th-century cloister or an external staircase. Near the entrance, a statue of St. William (the founder) stands on the mountain, while the "Torrione" chapel commemorates a divine apparition. * The Two Basilicas The Cathedral (1948–1961): A modern Romanesque masterpiece by Florestano Di Fausto. It features a majestic organ, bronze reliefs by János Hajnal, and a central Pentecost by Piero Casentini. The body of St. William rests beneath the altar. The Ancient Basilica (17th Century): Rebuilt in Baroque style after a 1629 collapse, it houses the Chapel of the Madonna of Montevergine. Notable features include a 16th-century wooden choir and a bust of St. Januarius, marking where his relics were once kept. * Key Chapels Redeemer & Unnailing: These medieval-style chapels flank the ancient altar. The Redeemer chapel holds a 13th-century Cosmatesque ciborium; the "Unnailing" (Schiodazione) chapel features a copy of Rubens' Deposition and various funerary monuments. The Madonna of Montevergine: This chapel houses the 13th-century icon attributed to Montano d’Arezzo. Depicting the Hodegetria ("She who shows the way"), the Virgin’s intense, penetrating gaze is the focal point of the sanctuary’s devotion. * Ex-Voto and Monastery Life The Ex-Voto Room displays centuries of pilgrim offerings and the incorrupt body of Blessed Giulio. Pilgrims also honor the Servant of God, Father Emilio Maria Colombo (1920–2000), whose beatification cause is ongoing. * Museum and Nativity Display The Abbey Museum spans 1000sqm, showcasing the 12th-century "Nursing Madonna," a carved abbatial throne, and Caravagesque paintings. The lower level is dedicated to the history of pilgrimage and a vast collection of Neapolitan and international Nativity scenes spanning the 17th to 19th centuries.