Certosa di Pesio

Founded in 1173, this charter-house is large and impressive. On our 2010 travels in Piedmont, we arrived just before noon when it was closing. Luckily, we were taken on a private tour through the church, cloisters and the private quarters.

The inner cloisters are like a loggia, and do not Gothic in architecture style. They look over the garden area. Each set of six monk's quarters had their own private cloistered yard, but they are more walled spaces for solitude.

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The portico runs 250 fee with Romanesque style columns. The three sides have one along the main structure, and two that run up towards the park and hills.

The Certosa was founded in 1173. The monastery was first built with the active support of the people in the valley. But over time this relationship soured and at times the people attacked the monastery.

The Carthusian Order abandoned the monastery in 1350 and it was later in the 15th Century the monks returned. In 1509 the Dukes of Savoy sent troops to quell the fighting between the town and the monastery.

The new rule of the Napoleonic Empire ceased the charter-house activity. Abolition of monastic orders took place in 1802. The monastery fell into decay. Furniture etc was sold to churches in the area.

In 1934 the Consolato Missionary Fathers of Turin took over the revitalization of the monastery and today the Fathers run the Certosa di Pesio.