The Sacra di San Michele is an ancient monastery built on Mount Pirchiriano, in Val di Susa, near Turin (Piedmont, Italy).
This abbey is consecrated to Saint Michael Archangel, and it is one of sacred places (all places consecrated to Saint Michael) built along a straight line between Ireland and Jerusalem.
It has been built by San Giovanni Vincenzo and by angels. Yes, by angels! The original place chosen by San Giovanni Vincenzo was Rocca Sella, on the other side of the valley. During the night, something strange happened: someone was taking stones and building materials from original place to Mount Pirchiriano. Legends say that the authors of this were angels working during the night, so San Giovanni Vincenzo thought the will of the Lord was to built abbey on Mount Pirchiriano.
Not only that, angels consecrated the abbey, it is why they call them 'La Sacra'.
Here a view of the Sacra from Avigliana town:
From Sant'Ambrogio town, trought San Pietro fraction, a steepy muletrack leads to the building. This muletrack has been traversed, during last centuries, by pilgrims and soldiers, trought an oak and chestnut trees wood. In fact, it is the first Italian stop of 'Via Francigena', the middle-age way that connects central and north Europe to Rome, the 'capital' of Christianity.
Here some objects and natural flora you can find along the muletrack:
The building is huge, and it inspired Umberto Eco for his novel/mastepiece 'The Name of the Rose' (Il Nome della Rosa).
It has been built on a basement, but also on the summit of the mount, so you can watch also rocks near and inside buildings. It seems to be half human and half natural, contribuiting to the spiritual charm of this place.
Here main entrance:
We entered inside:
A very huge entrance towards higher levels. Here, you can really feel to be back to middle-age!
In front of this buttresses I felt a sense of reverence and solemnity, as if it were not created only by human hands:
Me in photographic ecstasy...
...taking the following series of pictures: walls created a not usual windows pointing to the sky:
Here the church on the top (with a statue of Saint Michael in it):
And some image showing magnificent marble capitals:
Landscape from there was amazing, the air was very clear. These valleys, 10000 years ago, was filled by huge glaciers:
Main rocks is serpetine (the green ones), some of the deepest know, originated from the transfomation of metalilferous rock from the earth's mantel. In the following images you can see these stones used as bricks, in different ages:
A side of the abbey is ruined, as you can see: this ruins seemes like a natural cliffs, like the prayer of the Earth to the sky:
Here some metallic representations of Saint Michael:
If you reach to read here, I'm happy to share these sights wih you. It is really a spiritual point to look for meditation and calm in this frenetic world!
Pictures taken by me and by Francesca with Sony Apha 7iii, Nikon D800 and Samsung phone.
02.02.2024.
It's an ancient monastery but it's nonetheless stunning. The architecture is attractive. I love how it's positioned on a summit. Thanks for sharing and have a good day.
Very magic! Thank you!
Enorme e impressionante! Belle foto!
Davvero! Grazie
wow, the architecture of the ancient building is amazing, it was built on a hill. Amazing. Your photos are great.
Thank you!
#hive #posh
Such places are quite memorable when we visit here, many special memories come back with us the way we see these beautiful architectural designs and these historic buildings that they are much older, so here we are seeing these mountains, so they also look much more beautiful.
Thank you
I have never heard of this monastery, yet it is fantastic! Italy has pearls scattered throughout its territory
Really!
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