At the beginning of the thirteenth century, the lands of the Cimini mountains (around Lake Vico, south of Viterbo), were granted by Pope Innocent III to the Cistercian monks of the abbey of Pontigny with the assignment of an abbey that became impiantarvi a center of agricultural development in the region.
The disciples of St. Bernard Abbey built in record time. In 1225 the church was consecrated. With the construction of the cloister and its chapter house, refectory, library and infirmary, an oven and other laboratories, the monastic complex was completed before the end of the century. Nevertheless, the abbey had no development happy. Already in 1379 she was about to be abandoned due to lack of new vocations. In 1426 there were more than two monks. The personal interest of Pope Pius II (pontiff from 1458 to 1464), and the Piccolomini family, from which he came, he caused that were undertaken some restoration work, which made us hope, but these activities were not followed.
In 1564 the last monks left the abbey, which was closed and its assets became part of the heritage of the Holy See.

http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abbazia_di_San_Martino_al_Cimino

photo: Zeiss 16-35mm
original size 25000x12500
www.abagontheroad.com

photo : Flavio Di Mattia

assistant : Felice Urbena