Novalesa
Discovering the Novalesa Abbey
Rediscovering the Abbey
After being abandoned in the 19th century, the Novalesa Abbey of Saints Peter and Andrew was entrusted to the Torino Province in 1972 for its protection. From that moment, the Abbey was restored and entrusted to the Benedictine monks through an agreement with the Subiaco Benedictine Congregation.
The Artistic Importance of the Abbey
The Novalesa Abbey is famous for its chapels, one of which houses the cycle of frescoes dedicated to Saint Eldrado and the other to Saint Nicholas of Bari, one of the earliest cycles of frescoes in the West.
The History of the Novalesa Abbey
A Strategic Foundation
The Novalesa Abbey was founded in 726 by Abbone, governor of the county of Maurienne, in order to control the Moncenisio pass. Monasteries had strategic importance in those times and were used as bases for incursions against enemy populations.
Important Documents
The founding act of 726, followed by Abbone's Will and the Novalicense Chronicle, are the oldest documents in the State Archives of Torino.
Middle Ages
The first abbot of the monastery, San Godone, was appointed by the founder, who obtained numerous privileges from the French sovereignty, including the free election of the abbot and full possession of the assets.
Conclusions
The Novalesa Abbey, founded in the 8th century, had a strategic importance for the control of the Moncenisio pass. It had several moments of crisis, but thanks to the protection of the Torino Province and the agreement with the Subiaco Benedictine Congregation, it was restored and entrusted to new Benedictine monks. Today it represents a testament to the history of the Benedictine Order in Italy.
