Abbazia di Chiaravalle

History

Founded in 1135 by St Bernard of Clairvaux in person, the abbey turned the marshes south of Milan into some of Europe's most fertile farmland thanks to the water-meadows; tradition links the birth of grana cheese to its monks' dairy skill. Above the crossing rises the Gothic lantern tower known as the "Ciribiciaccola", one of Milan's best-loved silhouettes. Suppressed in 1798 and scarred by the nineteenth-century railway, it saw the Cistercians return in 1952: today it is a living community, with a restored medieval mill, shop and guesthouse.

Visiting

What to see

First Italian Gothic cloister. Lombardy brick church. Soaring bell tower. Medieval frescoes. Agricultural reclamation of water meadows.

Surroundings

South Milan Agricultural Park. Cycling path from Milan (15 km). Agricultural villages. Lombard rural tradition.

Visitor information

Church and cloister Tue-Fri 9am-noon and 3pm-5pm. Infopoint hours vary by day. Guided visits at weekends and on holidays, groups by booking at least 15 days ahead.

Contacts

02 57403404 · monasterochiaravalle.it · monasterochiaravalle@gmail.com

Hospitality and where to sleep

Guesthouse available

Guesthouse for spiritual retreats only, maximum six days, single en-suite rooms; apply directly to the monastery by phone or email.

Beds and prices

The monastic guesthouse takes guests exclusively for spiritual retreats, for a maximum of six days: single rooms with bathroom and hot water, attendance at Mass and the liturgical hours, silence required. Requests to the monastery: tel. 02 5740 3404, monasterochiaravalle@gmail.com; conditions to be agreed. Otherwise there is the whole of Milan's hotel offering a quarter of an hour's ride away.

Services

Monks' shop with products from the abbey and other monasteries, restaurant at the complex, bar in the hamlet. Infopoint open Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-12.30pm (tel. 02 8493 0432) with audioguides and tours. Water and every urban service close at hand; full phone coverage. The guesthouse follows the monastic rhythm: don't expect wifi in your room.

Places to stay nearby (within 15 km)

No places listed within 15 km yet: the overnight network is a work in progress.

Getting there by bike

One of the easiest arrivals in the guide: from Porta Romana/Corvetto follow the Vettabbia cycle path through the park of the same name to the abbey, 4-5 flat km on asphalt and light gravel. Leave the bike in the forecourt by the entrance. Church free to enter during opening hours (mind the services); guided tours of the cloister, St Bernard's chapel and the mill for a fee via the Infopoint.

The Vettabbia cycle path leads from central Milan right into the abbey's park, almost entirely flat. The bell tower is visible from afar, a natural guide along the way. Better to check the infopoint's hours, they change from day to day.

Bike left in the square in front of the entrance. The monks' shop and a restaurant at the complex, water and city services within reach.

Map and stages