The Abbey of Sant'Antimo

Sant’Antimo is an ancient abbey inhabited through the centuries by Benedictine monks and founded, according to legend, by the emperor Charlemagne. The church, built in the twelfth century, is considered one of the masterworks of medieval architecture. Inside it is an outstanding piece of sculpture: a capital showing Daniel in the lions’ den, carved by a French artist known as the Master of Cabestany. The harmony of the architecture and the refinement of the decorative elements are an expression of the “True Beauty” which is Christ. Art becomes a hymn of praise to the Lord. The walls of Sant’Antimo are not only a magnificent monument, but become the guardians and witnesses of Benedictine monastic spirituality. Through prayer, work and the “strenuous labour of obedience,” the monk seeks God.