A 15th-century Franciscan convent discovered in Calabria. It was buried underground

A Franciscan monastery dating back to 1439 has resurfaced in Calabria, in Oriolo (province of Cosenza): it was buried under five meters of earth and was discovered during some cleaning work on an area of countryside on the outskirts of the village, as part of the Calabria Verde project. The convent, known through documents, was a monastery of the Third Order Regular of St. Francis of Assisi, and around 1500 its rooms were also frescoed.

The work has brought to light walls, doors, altars and the structure of the rooms (identified the refectory, the scriptorium and a room possibly used as a locutorium, or reception room): soon, thanks to funding from the Ministry of Cultural Heritage that allowed its recovery, the work of valorization will also begin, because the complex will be open to the public. Work on securing the altars dedicated to St. Francis of Paola (where the relic of the saint’s big toe, now in Oriolo’s parish church, was also kept) will be completed shortly. Not only that: the funding will also allow for the construction of an elevator that will connect the convent area to the historic center of Oriolo.

A 15th-century Franciscan convent discovered in Calabria. It was buried underground

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