Guided tours of the Abbey of Follina on the Prosecco hills

Looking for a Tour Guide of the Abbey in Follina along the Prosecco Road?

I’m a tour guide to the Abbey in Follina, along the Prosecco Road, just over one hour from Venice. Ready to discover this little jewel?

Which connection did the Abbey of Santa Maria in Follina have with the one of San Fermo Maggiore in Verona? Why is it also related to Saint Bernardo from Chiaravalle in Milan and connected to Citeaux in France? First the Benedictines and then the Cistercians, the so-called black monks and white monks, came to Follina during the XII century.

Peaceful place on the Prosecco hills

The secluded and silent position at the foot of the Veneto’s PreAlps was for sure one of the sources of attraction. Plus, a valley always flooded with light and pervaded by healthy and pure air and rich in water springs.

It was also close to a pass that in the past connected the Adriatic See with the Danube. Maybe the Claudia Augusta Altinate Roman Road? Now the Abbey is one of the most interesting monuments along the Prosecco Road, just over one hour from Venice, Italy.

The Basilica and the XIII-century cloister

Despite the damages caused by the bombings of WWI, a visit to the Abbey let us still go back to its original life, thanks to the austerity and the silence of the Basilica.It has the apse facing east – towards the sunrise, symbol of life – and it is flanked outside by a beautiful XIII-century cloister. Its columns express its eternal beauty.

What about to discover together the interesting decoration of their capitals? How was living there in the past centuries? A life dedicated to ora et labora by the first monks, the kindness of the lady Sofia da Camino, the vicissitudes during the long period “in commenda” – with the ideals of Carlo Borromeo from Milan -, the transition to the Camaldolesis, the Napoleonic suppression and, in the end, the loving service by the Servants of Mary.

The Madonna of the Sacred Chalice

The Basilica houses some interesting works of art, like the very ancient sandstone statue representing the Madonna of the Sacred Chalice… but how old is really that? Why is the Abbey – today symbol of Follina, one of the many beautiful borghi (little village) of Italy – a pilgrimage site?

Are you curious to know more with a tour guide for the Abbey of Follina maybe during a Prosecco Tour? This is the opportunity to go away from our busy life and experience an atmosphere of mystic contemplation.

Contact me for a guided tour of the Abbey in Follina!