• Art & Culture

A visit to Cerreto Abbey

Cerreto Abbey: a Cistercian jewel of the province of Lodi 

Alessandra Heidelberg, founder of the Alessandra Style blog, has long been fascinated by the history and beauty of Cerreto Abbey and tells us about her visit.

 

When people talk about Lombardy, they immediately think about the city of Milan with its urban environment, skyscrapers and the economy linked to business and a fast-paced lifestyle. I had the chance to enjoy a completely different experience and discovered that this region has much more than that to offer.

 

Cerreto Abbey
Having arrived by train from the city for a short stay in the Lodi area, my gaze fell almost unintentionally on the calming natural landscape of the Po Valley with its fields irrigated by a dense network of channels, rows of trees, little towns, farms and farmhouses. During my brief stay in Lodi and the surrounding area, I found that the region also has a rich history and architectural heritage telling of its important past. Amongst the latter, I got the chance to visit Cerreto Abbey, a little architectural gem set in the lush green countryside. The monastic building immediately reminded me of the Chiaravalle Abbey in Milan, although on a smaller scale. It is in fact, as I later learned, the abbey church of Lodi, founded by the Benedictines in 1084, it was later entrusted to the Cistercians by Bernardo di Chiaravalle and acquired a significant role over time.

The interior of the church, a notable example of Romanesque-Gothic architecture, was no less impressive in my opinion. The plan is in the style of a basilica, with three naves, the central one of which is made up of four double rectangular spans, with eight matching smaller spans on the sides. The pillars are all in brick, formed by three massive semi-cylindrical columns. The thing that really struck me was the combination of the original brick, typical of the Lombardy region, with the white of the restorations of recent years, a particularly successful chromatic mix, in my opinion. Among the valuable works of art to be seen inside, a painting by Callisto Piazzo, a disciple of Titian, called "Pala Cesi" stands out. The painting, commissioned by Abbot Cesi, depicts the Madonna and Child, the saints and the abbot himself.

I am particularly pleased to mention the chapel of the Holy Rosary, which is to the left of the entrance. I learned a curious fact linked to this corner of the abbey: in times gone by, it was known as the "women's chapel", being reserved for them because, according to Cistercian rules, women were not allowed in the abbey church, apart from on the day of the Feast of the Dedication.

The visit to Cerreto Abbey was an immersion in a timeless landscape, where the religious silence of the ancient walls and the soothing quiet of the surrounding countryside gave me moments of true serenity, far from the chaos of city life.


Useful information

Cerreto Abbey
Piazza della Vittoria - Abbadia Cerreto (LO)

Opening times:
Open on Saturday and Sunday
10.30 -18.00

 

On the same topic

5 medieval monuments in Lodi

A journey of discovery through the Middle Ages, from Borghetto Lodigiano to Lodi.
  • Art & Culture
Palazzo Rho_Borghetto Lodigiano

Visiting the Castle in the night

  • Art & Culture
Visiting the Castle in the night

Monuments Cremona

Cremona: a splendid city of art with a sober elegance and many monuments, to be visited on foot or by bicycle
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Cremona, visiting Lombardy

Franciacorta Itinerary

The ideal destination for those who love cultural tourism
  • Art & Culture
Franciacorta Itinerary, let's traverse it

The sound of Stradivari

Live performances with the instruments of the collections of the Violin’s Museum.
  • Art & Culture
Clarissa Bevilacqua

Cremona and its music

Cremona's music is closer than what you think
  • Art & Culture
Cremona and its music

Lodi, invitation to court

Scenes of court life in the majestic Castle of Sant'Angelo Lodigiano that dominates the plain with an unequaled past
  • Art & Culture
Lodi, invitation to court

Theaters Bergamo

The theatrical season of Bergamo accompanies us with a flourishing billboard of shows not to be missed
  • Art & Culture
Theaters Bergamo, hints on visiting

Lomello and its Christian buildings

Village of strategical importance since ancient times, here you can discover the great Romanesque Lombard architecture
  • Art & Culture
Lomello and its Christian buildings

The Winter Songs

The legend of the coldest days in the year
  • Art & Culture
The Winter Songs

Following Leonardo's footsteps in Milan

  • Art & Culture
Following Leonardo's footsteps in Milan

The historic houses of Bergamo

Gardens, art, culture and beauty: the historic homes of the noble families of Bergamo are well worth a visit.
  • Art & Culture
The historic houses of Bergamo

Monument Varese

Stately homes, religious buildings, fortifications and UNESCO treasures among the beauties of Varese and its surroundings
  • Art & Culture
Monument Varese, what to see

Bergamo Brescia: Italian capital of culture 2023

Discover the schedule of events, new museums, projects and exhibitions that promise to take you off the beaten track.
  • Art & Culture
Bergamo Brescia: Italian capital of culture 2023 - Teatro Grande Brescia - inLombardia

On the trail of traditional trades

Six destinations to explore crafts and tradition, on the trail of traditional trades in the timeless landscapes of Lombardy.
  • Art & Culture
On the trail of traditional trades

The window on the river Po

A romantic corner on the Great River
  • Art & Culture
The window on the river Po

Another weekend at home: here's something to do

Ideas and activities for the whole family
  • Art & Culture
Credits photo_ Compagnia Marionettistica Carlo Colla e Figli

Monuments Milan

Milan is rich in historical and artistic monuments of the highest value that bear witness to the history of the Lombard capital
  • Art & Culture
Monuments Milan, suggestions for visiting

San Pietro a Gemonio

This church is one of the points that remain more etched in the memory of the travelers who travel the Varese-Laveno
  • Art & Culture
San Pietro a Gemonio and the Salvini Museum in Cocquio Trevisago

Cult City #inLombardia

11 Cities of Art just waiting to be discovered, one after the other, which look to the future while proudly preserving stunning heritage.
  • Art & Culture
Cult City #inLombardia