The Charterhouse of San Lorenzo in Padula

The Cilento is an area of Campania (link: https://italian-traditions.com/it/campania-scopri-la-guida-completa/), in the province of Salerno, rich in natural and historical wonders.

It is right in the heart of this area, elevated and far from the sea, that the Certosa di San Lorenzo develops, also known as Certosa di Padula, which is the largest monastic complex in the southern part of Italy.

In addition to this, it is among the most recognized monasteries in Europe both for its majestic architecture, both for the artistic specimens it houses inside; finally, it is the second largest monastery in Europe, after the Carthusian Monastery of Grenoble in France.

So much is its artistic and cultural importance that, in 1998, it was included in the list of World Heritage Unesco, together with the sites of Velia and Paestum, the Vallo di Diano and the Cilento National Park.

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Short history of Certosa di San Lorenzo

The construction of the Charterhouse of San Lorenzo began in 1306, at the behest of the Count of Marsico and lord of the Vallo di Diano, Tommaso Sanseverino. Between renovations and extensions, the works ended in the nineteenth century.

Today there are few parts of the original conformation remained intact: the door of the church, which dates back to 1374 and its cross vaults are among them.

During the sixteenth century there were the most significant interventions at the structural level while, the frescoes and the changes of use of the existing environments date back to the eighteenth century.

After the various works, in 1807 Certosa di Padula was closed because the order of the Carthusians was abolished and in this period many of the works contained in it were removed.

In the following decades the monastery was used for military purposes and as an internment camp during the First and Second World Wars.

Since 1957, the Charterhouse of San Lorenzo has been the site of the archaeological museum of Western Lucania and contains many objects found in the necropolis of Padula and Sala Consilina, testimonies of a period ranging from prehistory to the Hellenistic age.

Among the various prominent figures who visited the monastery during the centuries are names such as Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who made a stop with his army returning from the conquest of Tunis in 1535.

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Visiting Certosa di Padula: what to see

The Charterhouse of San Lorenzo covers an area of more than 50,000 m² and consists mainly of an entrance courtyard, which includes the work areas and the church, four cloisters and an Italian garden.

The monastery courtyard was the only place where monks could have contact with the outside and includes the pharmacy, stables and granaries area.

The monastery is essentially divided into two main spaces, each with its own specific function: one dedicated to work and the other to contemplation, according to the Carthusian tradition.

The first part of the monastery houses the structures used for the work, such as granaries, laundries and vegetable gardens, fundamental activities to ensure the daily livelihood of the monks.

The second part, however, includes the area of residence of the monks and the spaces dedicated to reflection and meditation. Here are the cells where the monks live, the places of study, the libraries and the prayer rooms.

The church boasts three cloisters: the Cloister of the Cemetery (the burial area of the monks), the Cloister of the Procurators and the Great Cloister. The latter, divided into two levels, is the largest cloister in Europe and was built to unite the cloistered area with the outside area.

The cloisters offer an oasis of peace and tranquility in which to isolate yourself from the outside world: they are designed to serve as meeting places for monks and green areas in which to relax.

Finally, the Italian garden adds a touch of harmonious aesthetics to the monastic complex and represents a place of beauty and serenity where monks can walk and enjoy the surrounding nature.

A visit to the Certosa di San Lorenzo is a unique experience, through which you can get in touch with nature and your inner self, in search of peace and tranquility.

Characteristic that you will also find in the medieval village of Padula, made with the famous local stone and narrow streets where time seems to stop.