Sabiona Monastery

About

Built on a former Roman settlement, this Benedictine monastery on the “Holy Mountain" was a center of pilgrimage and the seat of an extensive religious precinct. Perched on a 200 m rock spur, the earliest records of Sabiona date back to the 6th century, when it was the seat of a bishopric. Over the centuries, additional churches and fortifications were constructed to create a bishop fortress in the 1400s. In 1687, Benedictine nuns from Nonnenberg moved into the monastery, and still live there today. Archaeological findings testify that from this place the Christian faith was spread all over South Tyrol. Today the 4 churches of the monastery create the imposing air of a Gothic castle, complete with fortified walls, while still offering the rich ambience of a place of worship. Of course, being on a mountaintop, the views of the surrounding area are jaw-dropping.