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Italy has for millennia been a central stage for the religious development and spirituality of the Christian West. From majestic papal basilicas to serene mountain sanctuaries, the country offers an extraordinary variety of experiences that promise a deep connection with the past, art and faith. Whether you are a devout pilgrim, a history buff or s...

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The Abbey of Montecassino is a symbol of spirituality, history, and resilience. The patron Saint of Europe and father of Western Monasticism Benedict of Norcia founded the abbey in 529 AD. He had reached the hills of Montecassino from Subiaco, on foot, with other monks: they planned to find the perfect spot to build a monastery and give their commu...

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When reading up on a place where unending successions of peoples become part of that place’s tapestry and of its layers of development down through time, I find a mind boggling collusion between geography and history that won’t let up. This is exactly the experience I had while researching the Abbey of Montecassino. Montecassino. A rocky hill with...

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Monte Cassino is famous for its magnificent Benedictine Order abbey located in southern Italy. It is also renowned for being the site of a major battle during World War Two between the American forces and the defending Germans. In the battle, Monte Cassino was needlessly destroyed. Today it is one of the most iconic monasteries in Italy. It is one...

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Dramatically located in the mountains of Lazio, this beautiful abbey was the first monastery of the Benedectine Order. It was established in 529 by Saint Benedict of Nursia, the patron saint of Europe, who is considered the founder of monasticism in the West. In the nearly 1,500 years since then, Montecassino Abbey has experienced more than its fai...

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One of the great things about modern libraries that is sometimes taken for granted is the access to books of many cultures and ages they make available.  Such was not always the case. With the fall of the Roman Empire in the west and the unsettled conditions of the ensuing centuries, an unspeakable amount of books were lost either through deliberat...

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