THE ABBEY OF MONTECASSINO

Benefactors' Cloister

This cloister, with its pure Renaissance style, was built in 1513, according to the design by Antonio Sangallo Jr.

This quadriportico is called "Benefactors' cloister" because of the many statues of Popes and Kings whose munificence was lavished upon the Abbey over the centuries.

The façade of the Basilica Cathedral, perfectly harmonizing with the cloister architecture, was built according to the design of Ing. G. Breccia Fratadocchi in 1952. The tympanum bears the Coat of Arms of Montecassino and of its Abbots: a rampant lion and a tower between two lofty cypress trees with the inscription:

"Benedicti numine sancta"
(Saint is the Basilica by the will of Benedict).

Access to Basilica is provided by three bronze doors, the middle one of which dates from the eleventh century, when Desiderius was Abbot. It is consisting of a set of panels with silver damaskeened lettering; the lower panel at the right, between two crosses, certifies that these doors wings were made in Constantinople in 1066 and were a gift from Mauro of Amalfi, son of Pantaleone.

The inscriptions which have a great historic value, are listing the possessions and churches depending on Montecassino in the eleventh and twelfth century.

The side doors were a gift from Luigi Einaudi, President of the Italian Republic and were sculptured by P. Canonica (1954).

The panels on the left access door feature the events:

  • St. Benedict's arrival at Montecassino;
  • his taking charge of building the Monastery;
  • his driving out the devil who is preventing removal of a rock;
  • his raising a child from the dead.
At the lower end are illustrated:
  • the first destruction of the Abbey by the Longobards around 577 d.C.;
  • the second destruction by the Saracens in 883.

The panels on the right side access door show the following episodes:
  • St. Benedict as he receives the Goth King Totila;
  • ennobling farm work;
  • as an evangelizer;
  • sending out his monks to spread his Rule.
At the bottom of the door are expressed the allegories:
  • the third destruction of Montecassino caused by the earthquake in 1349;
  • the fourth destruction caused by the bombardment on February 15, 1944.

Images available in this page:

Benefactors' Cloister
Benefactors' cloister as is seen from the anti-portico (614x415, 88K)
Middle door
View of the middle door of the Basilica Cathedral (614x415, 88K)

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