Certosa Monastery of San Lorenzo

The monastery of Certosa di San Lorenzo, located under a mountain in the town of Padula, is one of the greatest historical monuments in the world. This is one of the most interesting architectural structures in Europe, hiding in its walls a huge number of valuable artifacts.

Certosa di San Lorenzo was created in accordance with the typical structure of monasteries, which combined religious life and economic activity. The space was organized in such a way that the upper part was intended for a deeply religious and ascetic life, and the lower tier was actually reserved for secular activities. The first monks who appeared in the monastery set themselves the task of establishing relations with local residents, exercising control over agricultural activities and handicraft production.

The monastery is surrounded by a powerful wall designed for defensive purposes. Entering the courtyard, tourists see numerous rooms: barns, stables, rooms for pilgrims. Even the inner space of the church was divided into two parts: the upper for clergy, the lower for laity.

During the time of Bonaparte, the Chertosa di Padula, like many monasteries, fell out of favor and was deprived of its wealth. Currently, however, books, archives, art and treasures have been returned and stored in the monastery’s sacristy.