Certosa di Padula

Lore & Background

The monastery was founded on 27 April 1306 by Tommaso di San Severino on the site of an earlier monastery. It is dedicated to Saint Lawrence, and its architectural structure supposedly recalls the griddle-iron upon which the saint was burnt alive. The monastery has the biggest cloister in the world, covering 12,000 m² and surrounded by 84 columns. A famous spiral staircase of white marble inside an annex leads to the large library.

Reader's Guide

The Certosa di Padula is significant as the largest monastery in Italy and a World Heritage Site, reflecting 450 years of building history culminating in Baroque architecture. Its immense scale—51,500 m² with 320 rooms—and the world's largest cloister (12,000 m²) underscore its importance as a Carthusian center. The monastery's role extended beyond religious life: it served as French headquarters during the Napoleonic Wars, a base for Garibaldi's Southern Army during the Risorgimento, and an internment camp for prisoners in both World Wars. Notably, the Czechoslovak Legion in Italy was established there in 1917. The site also houses the archaeological museum of Western Lucania, showcasing artifacts from protohistory to the Hellenistic Age. Its concentration of 18th-century scagliola work is unparalleled, making it a key site for art history. The monastery's dual spaces for contemplation and work illustrate the Carthusian way of life, while its external yards facilitated trade and production.

Did You Know?

• It houses the highest concentration of 18th-century scagliola work in one place.
• The Czechoslovak Legion in Italy was established here in 1917.
• The monastery served as an internment camp for prisoners during both World War I and World War II.