Territorial Abbey of Nonantola
Nonantola Abbey, dedicated to
and is the co-cathedral of the diocese of Modena-Nonantola.History
The abbey was founded in 752 by
In 900 the monastery and church were completely destroyed by invading Hungarians, and all who had not fled were killed. Reconstruction began almost immediately.
Up to the 11th century Nonantola was an imperial monastery, and its discipline often suffered severely on account of imperial interference in the election of abbots: Nonantola was in fact one of the most powerful abbeys of
The decline of the monastery can be dated to 1419, when it came under the jurisdiction of commendatory abbots. In 1514 abbot Gian Matteo Sertorio gave it to the Cistercians, but the abbey continued to decline until it was suppressed by Pope Clement XIII in 1768.[1] Alternatively it may have been replaced by Duke Francesco III d'Este in 1783, during the abbacy of Francesco Maria d'Este, with a collegiate foundation of canons.[2]
Buildings
The Town Hall of Nonantola is now accommodated in some of the remaining monastic buildings, in one of which 11th-century frescoes have been discovered.
The Museo Benedettino Nonantolano e Diocesano di Arte Sacra ("The Benedictine Nonantolan and Diocesan Museum of Sacred Art") is also now housed in the premises, as are the important abbey archives and library.
Basilica
The Basilica is a
References
- ^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Nonantola". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- ^ according to the Nonantola Abbey official website (in Italian)
- ^ Nonantola has the skulls; the remaining relics of Theopontus and Senesius are in the church of Radolfzell, where they were taken by Bishop Radolf of Verona from Saint Fusca's Abbey in Treviso in 830
Sources
- (in Italian) Nonantola Abbey Official website
- (in Italian) Centro Studi Storici Nonantolani: The Saints of Nonantola
- Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Nonantola". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.