Saint Michelès Abbey, Melfi, Basilicata, Italy. Built on side of a volcano.
The Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo (Abbey of St. Michael the Archangel) is located at the village Monticchio Laghi, named after nearby volcanic crater lake. The abbey is dedicated to St. Michael, and as common with this Saint the church of the abbey is a cave church. There was a small natural cave in the wall of the volcano which was transformed into a church consecrated to the devotion of Archangel Michael by the Langobrads, probably around the 7th century. Soon some Basilian hermits moved to this area and dug their cells into the soft volcanic tufa. They built the oratory in the 8th century, which was the start of the abbey. The land soon passed to the Benedictines who built the abbey in front of the cave. After they abandoned it in 1456, it was owned by the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin. In 1782 the military order of Constantine took over and finally in 1866 the Abbey became state property.
Size: 4608px × 3072px
Location: Melfi, Basilicata, Italy.
Photo credit: © J C Clamp / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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