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Rionero in Vulture-Monticchio - S. Michele’s Abbey

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Monticchio Lakes
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S. Michele’s Abbey was built in an extremely beautiful environment, where the green of thick vegetation surrounds two lakes, creating an enchanting scenographic effect.

The Abbey, founded by Benedictines in the X century, has a very ancient tradition. It was built on a cave hollowed in tuff.

Nearby some votive deposits of the IV-III centuries were found.

The ‘Grotta dell’Angelo’, dedicated to S. Michele, was the place where the Italian-Greek monks, who lived in the area, used to gather for worship.

Later on Benedictines settled in and had the Abbey built up and then they left it in 1456. After several ups and downs, the Abbey passed to the Capuchins, who founded a library and a woollen mill.

This complex is composed of a Convent, with several floors, a Church of the XVIII century and S. Michele’s Chapel. A characteristic path goes through the thick woods and leads to the Abbey that, built on the Vulture Mountain side, overlooks the Lago Piccolo (Small Lake), being pleasantly at odds with the surrounding landscape.