Certosa di Padula
Campania
Certosa di Padula, also known as Padula Charterhouse, is a vast Carthusian monastery located in the town of Padula in Southern Italy's Campania region. Founded in 1306 by Tommaso di San Severino, it is the largest monastery in Italy, covering over 51,500 square meters with 320 rooms and halls. The architectural style is predominantly Baroque, featuring the world's largest cloister surrounded by 84 columns. The monastery balances contemplative spaces such as peaceful cloisters, a grand library with a famous white marble spiral staircase, and chapels adorned with exquisite 18th-century scagliola work, alongside productive areas like kitchens, cellars, stables, and olive oil mills. It also houses the archaeological museum of Western Lucania, preserving artifacts from protohistory to the Hellenistic Age. Historically, the site has served various roles including French military headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars, a base for Garibaldi's Southern Army in the Risorgimento, and an internment camp during both World Wars. The monastery remains a stunning testament to religious, cultural, and military history, attracting visitors with its monumental scale and artistic richness.
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Tip: Visit during spring and early autumn to enjoy pleasant weather and less crowded conditions. Advance booking is recommended for guided tours and special exhibitions. Discounts are often available for students, seniors, and groups. Check official website for updated opening hours and special events.
Interesting facts
- •The monastery has the largest cloister in the world, covering 12,000 square meters and surrounded by 84 columns.
- •The spiral staircase inside the annex is crafted from white marble and is a famed architectural feature.
- •The monastery holds the highest concentration of 18th-century scagliola work in one location, a decorative plaster technique.
- •It served as French headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars and later as a base for Garibaldi’s army in the Italian unification.
- •The archaeological museum within preserves finds from protohistory to the Hellenistic period excavated in the surrounding region.
History
The Certosa di Padula was founded in 1306 by Tommaso II Sanseverino on the site of a pre-existing monastery, with royal confirmation by King Carlo II.
Initially a political and religious foundation to strengthen ties with the Angevin rulers, it became the second Carthusian monastery in southern Italy.
The Sanseverino family’s fall in the 15th century transferred ownership fully to the Carthusian monks, who expanded and enriched the complex.
Between the late 16th and 18th centuries, extensive Baroque renovations shaped the monastery’s current architectural grandeur.
The site also played significant military roles during the Napoleonic Wars, Italian unification, and both World Wars, including the establishment of the Czechoslovak Legion in Italy in 1917.
Place Guide
The Great Cloister14th century
The world’s largest cloister measuring 12,000 square meters, bordered by 84 columns, offering a serene space for contemplation and a prime example of monastic architecture.
Spiral Marble Staircase18th century
A remarkable white marble spiral staircase located in an annex, leading visitors to the monastery’s extensive library.
Library with Vietri Ceramic Tiles18th century
The library features a beautifully decorated floor with fine Vietri ceramic tiles, housing a vast collection of manuscripts and religious texts.
Chapel Interiors with Scagliola Work18th century
Chapels adorned with intricate 18th-century scagliola inlaid marble works, showcasing the highest concentration of this art form in one place.
Archaeological Museum of Western LucaniaEstablished 1957
Located within the monastery, this museum preserves a rich collection of archaeological finds from local necropolises, spanning from protohistory to the Hellenistic Age.
Contact
Phone: 0975 196 6359
