Montelabate - Abbazia di Santa Maria di Valdiponte

The "Abbazia di Santa Maria di Valdiponte" ("Abbey of Montelabate") dates back to the 9th century. In 969 a Papal Bull ordered the Abbott Pietro to restore the monastery and to start there a new Benedictine convent.

Located between Perugia and Gubbio the abbey, that belonged to the Cluniac network within the 12th century, prospered over centuries, but declined from mid 16th century on, after it had become a "commanderie". The commandatory abbot recieved the abbey from the pope as a benefice and without taking up residence was entitle to the revenues of the abbey. In 1602 the abbey became the center of a large agricultural holding, before in 1749 it came into the possesion of Cistercian monks.

The Abbey suffered strongly during the Napoleonic times. After the Risorgimento it became property of the State. The huge archive was transferred to public libraries, the works of art were moved to the National Gallery of Umbria. Later it passed through several private ownerships and now it is owned by the Gerolamo Gaslini Foundation based in Genova.

The lower level of the cloister was completed under abbot Orator (1205-1222). There is an inscription near the entry

"ISTIUS ORATOR / OPERIS FUIT EDI(FICATOR(?) /../PRO EO) SUPLICIUS ORA" (Orator commisioned this work - pray for him).

A cloister is documented earlier and some parts used by Orator´s workers date back to the 9th or 10th century.

We were very lucky to join a group that had booked a guided tour through the abbey.