Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy
Sacred spaces are, and have always been, places of reception: hospitality is in fact a precept of God. Many biblical passages remind us of this, such as the one (<em>Gen</em> 18, 4-5) in which Abraham welcomes three guests, washes their feet and offers them a piece of bread and a place t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Technological University Dublin
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| Series: | International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage |
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| _version_ | 1818024796437348352 |
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| author | Silvia Beltramo |
| author_facet | Silvia Beltramo |
| author_sort | Silvia Beltramo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Sacred spaces are, and have always been, places of reception: hospitality is in fact a precept of God. Many biblical passages remind us of this, such as the one (<em>Gen</em> 18, 4-5) in which Abraham welcomes three guests, washes their feet and offers them a piece of bread and a place to rest under a tree. Saint Benedict too, in chapter 53 of the <em>Rule</em>, insisted on the need to honour pilgrims and travellers, who should be welcomed with a charitable service ready for devotion and stated that all guests who entered the monastery should be received as if they were Christ, washing their hands and feet.The reception of travellers, the sick, and pilgrims in religious centres in the Middle Ages has been one of the cornerstones of the life of many monastic and convent communities scattered throughout the territory. The growing number of <em>domus hospitals</em> and <em>xenodochii</em>, recorded from the early centuries of the Middle Ages until the 15th century, demonstrates the need for them and their widespread dissemination in Italy and Europe. It seems to be possible to identify some phases of this development linked to the different monastic and convent orders that dedicated themselves to relieving the suffering of travellers and the sick. An initiwidespread dissemination in Italy and Europe. It seems to be possible to identify some phases of this development linked to the different monastic and convent orders that dedicated themselves to relieving the suffering of travellers and the sick. An initial significant presence along the road axes was followed by a subsequent phase of settlement in the major urban centres. Each community had its rules which also influenced the choice of where the sites were positioned, the buildings in which to receive pilgrims and the architectural typologies, often clearly designed to identify the place immediately.The research findings presented here derive from research aimed at identifying religious hospitality architectures through a study of the documentary sources and an analysis of the buildings still preserved in the territory of Northern Italy. In particular, the analysis of the main cases linked to monastic hospitality, such as the <em>Sacra di San Michele</em> – the centre of worship of Archangel Michael, an essential step in the pilgrimage between Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy and San Michele del Gargano in Puglia – <em>Novalesa</em> and <em>Staffarda</em> constitute the main theme of this investigation (Figure 1).Even today these cases represent places of pilgrimage and reception of great interest and inflow; the long tradition of hospitality that has characterized the Christian world since the Middle Ages until the present day seems to be continuing, and is indeed revitalized and reaffirmed by recent pastoral guidelines. Religious tourism in the contemporary era has seen a significant increase linked to a form of spirituality that rediscovers the history of the oldest monasteries as a place of meditation and prayer. The tourism of major religious event |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:05:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5dfa1abf70394ae48c1a81f47133958d |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2009-7379 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T04:05:54Z |
| publisher | Technological University Dublin |
| record_format | Article |
| series | International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage |
| spelling | doaj.art-5dfa1abf70394ae48c1a81f47133958d2022-12-22T02:02:50ZengTechnological University DublinInternational Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage2009-7379l110.21427/D7XX4DMedieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern ItalySilvia Beltramo0Politecnico di TorinoSacred spaces are, and have always been, places of reception: hospitality is in fact a precept of God. Many biblical passages remind us of this, such as the one (<em>Gen</em> 18, 4-5) in which Abraham welcomes three guests, washes their feet and offers them a piece of bread and a place to rest under a tree. Saint Benedict too, in chapter 53 of the <em>Rule</em>, insisted on the need to honour pilgrims and travellers, who should be welcomed with a charitable service ready for devotion and stated that all guests who entered the monastery should be received as if they were Christ, washing their hands and feet.The reception of travellers, the sick, and pilgrims in religious centres in the Middle Ages has been one of the cornerstones of the life of many monastic and convent communities scattered throughout the territory. The growing number of <em>domus hospitals</em> and <em>xenodochii</em>, recorded from the early centuries of the Middle Ages until the 15th century, demonstrates the need for them and their widespread dissemination in Italy and Europe. It seems to be possible to identify some phases of this development linked to the different monastic and convent orders that dedicated themselves to relieving the suffering of travellers and the sick. An initiwidespread dissemination in Italy and Europe. It seems to be possible to identify some phases of this development linked to the different monastic and convent orders that dedicated themselves to relieving the suffering of travellers and the sick. An initial significant presence along the road axes was followed by a subsequent phase of settlement in the major urban centres. Each community had its rules which also influenced the choice of where the sites were positioned, the buildings in which to receive pilgrims and the architectural typologies, often clearly designed to identify the place immediately.The research findings presented here derive from research aimed at identifying religious hospitality architectures through a study of the documentary sources and an analysis of the buildings still preserved in the territory of Northern Italy. In particular, the analysis of the main cases linked to monastic hospitality, such as the <em>Sacra di San Michele</em> – the centre of worship of Archangel Michael, an essential step in the pilgrimage between Mont-Saint-Michel in Normandy and San Michele del Gargano in Puglia – <em>Novalesa</em> and <em>Staffarda</em> constitute the main theme of this investigation (Figure 1).Even today these cases represent places of pilgrimage and reception of great interest and inflow; the long tradition of hospitality that has characterized the Christian world since the Middle Ages until the present day seems to be continuing, and is indeed revitalized and reaffirmed by recent pastoral guidelines. Religious tourism in the contemporary era has seen a significant increase linked to a form of spirituality that rediscovers the history of the oldest monasteries as a place of meditation and prayer. The tourism of major religious eventpilgrimage routesreligious architecturesreligious tourismhospitality. |
| spellingShingle | Silvia Beltramo Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage pilgrimage routes religious architectures religious tourism hospitality. |
| title | Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy |
| title_full | Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy |
| title_fullStr | Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy |
| title_short | Medieval Architectures for Religious Tourism and Hospitality along the Pilgrimage Routes of Northern Italy |
| title_sort | medieval architectures for religious tourism and hospitality along the pilgrimage routes of northern italy |
| topic | pilgrimage routes religious architectures religious tourism hospitality. |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT silviabeltramo medievalarchitecturesforreligioustourismandhospitalityalongthepilgrimageroutesofnorthernitaly |