Abbazia di Casamari

History

Established in the eleventh century on the site of the Roman municipium of Cereatae, birthplace of Gaius Marius (hence "casa Marii"), it passed to the Cistercians in 1152 and was rebuilt in the purest Gothic-Burgundian forms, consecrated in 1217: together with Fossanova it is the summit of Cistercian Gothic in Italy. It is still inhabited by a community of Cistercian monks, with a historic pharmacy and liqueur shop, museum and library.

Visiting

What to see

Masterpiece of Italian Cistercian Gothic. Three-nave church consecrated in 1217. Main cloister with paired columns. Chapter house with perfect ribbed vaults. Library with 50,000 volumes. Historic monastic pharmacy.

Surroundings

Liri Valley between Frosinone and Sora. Ciociaria with medieval villages (Veroli, Alatri). Cammino delle Abbazie (on foot, CAI Alatri). Ciociarian gastronomy.

Visitor information

Daily 9am-12pm and 3-6pm

Contacts

0775 282371 · abbaziadicasamari.it

Hospitality and where to sleep

Guesthouse available

Monastic guesthouse (men) and the nuns' house for groups

Beds and prices

Internal guesthouse reserved for priests, religious and men wishing to share the community's life, with hospitality also for passing pilgrims of the Cammino di San Benedetto; mixed groups and women are hosted in an adjacent building run by Cistercian nuns. Booking through the guest father (tel. 0775 282371). Alternatives in Veroli (budget-to-mid range).

Services

The monks' pharmacy-liqueur shop with historic products, museum and library; drinking water; bars and restaurants nearby along the state road and in Veroli. Wifi not documented.

Places to stay nearby (within 15 km)

• Foresteria dell'Abbazia di Casamariguesthouse
  Abbazia di Casamari, Veroli (FR) · 0.1 km as the crow flies

  Price:

  from ~€20 room only, to be confirmed when booking

  Open:

  year-round, booking required (tel. 0775 282371)

  Facilities:

  renovated rooms; bar, restaurant and pharmacy 200 m away

  Source:

  abbaziadicasamari.it/index.php/ospitalita · camminodibenedetto.it

  Cistercian guesthouse inside the abbey, welcoming pilgrims passing through on the Cammino di San Benedetto.

Getting there by bike

The abbey stands along the SS214 Frosinone-Sora road, at Casamari di Veroli: a flat valley-floor approach without any difficulty, minding the traffic on the state road; large car park in front of the entrance. Free entry to the visit (church, cloister, refectory and chapter house); advance notice appreciated for groups.

The valley-floor main road leads straight to the abbey, no climbs. Those arriving on the Way of St Benedict find a guesthouse designed just for passing pilgrims. Better to give notice beforehand, especially if travelling in a group.

Ample car park in front of the entrance. The monks' pharmacy-liqueur shop has drinking water; bars and restaurants in Veroli.

Map and stages