Sabiona Monastery

South Tyrol’s “Acropolis”rises on a majestic mountain.

The mountain on which the monastery majestically rises was inhabited already in the Neolithic Age and is known as one of Tyrol’s oldest pilgrimage sites. The Church of the Holy Cross was the seat of the bishops of the “Bistum Sabiona” for 400 years. Around the year 1,000 A.D. the seat was moved to Bressanone.

For 300 years Benedictine nuns have lived in this fortress-like monastery (see image) in retreat from the rest of the world. Currently there are eleven nuns there. Well worth a visit are the Chapel of St.Mary, the “Liebfrauen” Church, the Monastery Church, the Jubilee fountain and the Church of the Holy Cross.
Departing from the town of Chiusa you can reach the monastery in about 45 minutes along the Sabiona promenade. If you take the Kreuzweg it takes about 30 minutes.

> Tip: In the near-by village of Lazfons every year in June a special pilgrimage, the so-called “Gerichtsumgang”, departs to the chapel of Ritzlar at 2,300 m (Cima San Cassiano) - the highest pilgrimage site of Europe!