Monasteries in South Tyrol: Between Hospitality and Culture

If political power made South Tyrol’s landscape more picturesque by adorning it with mighty feudal castles, the ecclesiastical power, through its reorganisation, enriched it with imposing abbeys and monasteries — such as Novacella Abbey near Bressanone.

While some local lords tried to enrich themselves by imposing tolls or even plundering the caravans of merchants in transit, religious institutions instead took on the role of facilitating passage through the valleys, offering hospitality to travellers and creating a support system for pilgrims on their way to Rome, the Holy Sepulchre or other sacred Christian sites.

Hospitality in the Monasteries

In Roman times, the mansiones were designed to offer support to travellers along the consular roads. With the spread of Christianity, however, the role of hospitality passed to the monasteries and parishes. In addition to prayer and the transcription of sacred texts, monks also devoted themselves to helping pilgrims, providing shelter, food and care during their long journeys across the Alps.

These places did not form an organised system like the Roman stations, but they served as safe points of reference scattered along the main communication routes. Beyond their religious and charitable mission, many monasteries became cultural centres, enriched with libraries and scholarly activity.

The Cultural Contribution of Pilgrims

The pilgrims welcomed into the monasteries were not only the poor or the needy but also educated and affluent people — merchants, nobles and scholars. Some travelled not only for faith but also out of a desire to discover new cultures and broaden their horizons. During the long stays imposed by the harsh Alpine winters, occasions for cultural exchange arose: books, ideas and knowledge were shared between travellers and monks, enriching both libraries and local learning.

One of the most emblematic places of this cultural ferment is Novacella Monastery, founded in 1142 by the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. It still preserves one of South Tyrol’s most important libraries, containing medieval manuscripts of inestimable value.

A Living Historical Heritage

Thanks to the care and preservation-minded spirit of the local population, many monasteries and abbeys in South Tyrol have survived to this day. In addition to Novacella, worth visiting are the Sabiona Convent above Chiusa — considered the “oldest monastery in Tyrol” — and the Franciscan Monastery of Bolzano, which houses 14th-century frescoes.

These sites are not only historical landmarks but also living centres of culture and spirituality, offering visitors the chance to immerse themselves in a past rich in hospitality, prayer and knowledge. A journey through these monasteries means rediscovering a centuries-old heritage of faith, culture and welcome.