|
|
Slow Tuscany
> Tuscany
> Pisa
> The Monastery of Calci
The
Certosa of Calci: a great Monastery
Damiano
Andreini
|
|
|
It's
one of the greatest architectural accomplishments in Tuscany
which can be reached coming from Pisa going towards Florence.
It is only a few kilometres away from the city of the Leaning
Tower.
The monastery complex was built in 1366 at the base of Mt. Pisano
(910 meters above sea level) and was expanded in the 1600's.
On the inside, the church and the garden area were actually
used in many films, such as the "Little Devil" with Roberto
Benigni.
Inside the complex, a guardian will show you the places that
were the most important aspects of the monks' lives. The dining
hall where the monks had to eat in silence without even looking
at one another and the little church where the most important
decisions regarding the monastery were made can still be seen.
The little compartments at the bottom of each pew in the church
used to hold hot ashes to warm the monks feet while they sang
can also still be seen. Ok, I can't reveal all the secrets,
so I'll stop here.
The monastery is open until the evening so I suggest that you
visit it in the evening hours when the stone and decor is illuminated
by the quickly fading red glow of the setting sun. The contrast
of the blue sky and the green olive trees with this image will
absolutely take your breath away.
Damiano Andreini |
|
|
