Novalesa Abbey

The abbey of Novalesa, founded in 726 by the Merovingian patrician Abbone. Due to its strategic position, Charlemagne made it a privileged outpost for the advance of the Franks towards Italy and further increased its possessions. Precisely in the Carolingian era, the monastery experienced its period of greatest splendour, becoming one of the beacons for the diffusion of European culture. Attached to the abbey are four chapels, the main of which, dedicated to St. Eldrado, has one of the most significant Romanesque fresco cycles in Italy. The abbey church was built in its current form in 1715 to a design by Antonio Bertola and houses the remains of 11th century frescoes, while another cycle dating back to the 15th century decorates part of the choir. The abbey has recently been enriched by the opening of the Archaeological Museum, which collects the finds that emerged during the excavations and archaeological investigations, and also houses a book restoration laboratory