Page 7 - Italian-American Herald - October 2023

HISTORY
left to the monks. At the time we visited (around 2009) the library was home to approximately 80,000 items.
We also learned that the abbey opened the Instituto San Bernardo in 1898 to provide education to the young monks which became a seminary in 1916. In 1962, under the direction of Abbot Nivardo Buttarazzi, the seminary became an institute offering educational opportunities to children of the area. Eventually it was recognized as a middle and high school by the state. On the day we visited we saw a number of students using the library.
The abbey is a working monastery and continues to serve as a site of worship for its congregants even as it offers tours on a daily basis. The beauty of the site has made it a popular place for wedding photos and pictures for other special events.
A visit to the Abbey gives an up-
close view of stunning architecture and
a historical perspective of both religious and cultural mores of both the past and present. It demonstrates the importance of abbeys across Italy as much more than just a spiritual center, but also a focal point of support for the surrounding communities and, through their missions, to people in need across the globe. IAH
ITALIAN-AMERICAN HERALD
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The refrectory is the communal dining area but was once a storage area for the produce grown at the abbey. | ADOBESTOCK
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