The Abbey of San Liberatore a Maiella, located in Serramonacesca, is one of the oldest Benedictine monasteries in Abruzzo. It was first mentioned in 772 AD as a monastery under the control of San Salvatore di Brescia. By 884, it was officially listed as part of the Monte Cassino Abbey’s properties. Destroyed by an earthquake in 990, it was rebuilt in 1007 and expanded in 1080 under Abbot Desiderius, who later became Pope Victor III. From the 14th century, the monastery entered a period of decline, culminating in its suppression by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1806. Nestled in a landscape of forests and rivers, the abbey’s Romanesque façade features three portals with intricate reliefs of palmettes and interwoven vines, as well as a three-tiered bell tower inspired by Lombard architecture.
Inside, the abbey follows a basilica plan, with three naves ending in semi-circular apses. The central nave boasts a 1275 Byzantine mosaic floor, resembling those found in Monte Cassino and San Clemente a Casauria. The pulpit, rebuilt using original materials, features medieval decorations, including griffins and floral motifs. At its peak, the monastery managed vast estates and employed over 1,500 people, including farmers, shepherds, and artisans. Nearby, ruins of additional buildings such as mills, forges, and pottery workshops reveal the monastery’s extensive economic activities. Restored in the 1960s, the abbey remains a remarkable example of Abruzzese Romanesque architecture and the Benedictine influence in the region.
- Address
Contrada S. Liberatore, Serramonacesca, Italy - Web
www.majella.it - Visiting Hours
Temporary closed - What to see
Romanesque church, ruins
