Abbey of Santa Maria di Staffarda

Introduction

The Abbey of Santa Maria di Staffarda is located in the municipality of Revello, in the province of Cuneo, immersed in the plain at the foot of Monviso, within the ancient territory of the Marquisate of Saluzzo. The foundation dates back to the years between 1122 and 1138, when Manfredo I of Saluzzo donated marshy land to the Cistercian monks, which underwent intensive reclamation works and soon became the religious and agricultural heart of the territory. The name 'Staffarda' derives from a local medieval name, maintaining ties with the rural history of the area.

Description

The importance of the abbey is testified by its role as the spiritual, economic and artistic centre of the region; it represents one of the best-preserved examples of medieval monastic architecture in Piedmont and preserves most of the original structures, in particular the church, cloister, chapter house, refectory and dormitory in the 14th-century version. The construction, directed according to the Cistercian style, combines formal rigour and functionality; stone and exposed brick predominate, local materials chosen to respect the rule of simplicity imposed by the monks. The church has three naves with semicircular apses facing east and is characterised by a slight asymmetry that enhances the spirituality of the place. Sober decorative details, such as small red stars, can be seen on the vaults, while a 14th-century bell tower emerges on the outside, documenting the transformations that have taken place over the centuries.
The abbey was for a long time a vital economic centre: the monks devoted themselves to agricultural innovations and the organisation of the covered market, fostering the growth of the surrounding community. Over time it went through periods of splendour and crisis: decadence began as early as the end of the 13th century, aggravated by invasions and conflicts, including devastation during the war between France, Austria and Savoy in 1690. In 1750, with the bull of Benedict XIV, the management passed to the Order of Saints Maurice and Lazarus.
The abbey complex is open to public visits, with variable opening hours that generally range from 9:00 to 12:30 and from 13:30 to 18:00 in the summer season, while in winter it closes at 17:00; on Mondays the structure is closed. The visit allows visitors to explore both the monastic rooms and the late-Gothic and Renaissance artistic testimonies, such as the late-Gothic pulpit and the chapter house. The site is easily accessible from Saluzzo and Revello, with parking available in the square in front of the abbey. Its isolated position in the plain offers striking views of the countryside, with the Alps in the background.
Numerous curiosities enrich the local history: among them, the discovery of a very ancient 7th-century epigraph under the floor of a stable in the abbey, testifying to the Christian militancy of the region even before the foundation of the monastery. Popular legends attribute stories of welcoming and aiding passing travellers to the workroom and the pilgrims' hospice.
Staffarda Abbey remains one of the most important medieval monuments in Piedmont, with an architectural style that combines Cistercian sobriety with Romanesque and Gothic influences, still representing a place of great historical, artistic and spiritual value for the local community and visitors.