Medieval Studies in Northern Italy Explore Monastic Networks and History

The “Medieval Study Days,” a workshop on monastic history of northern Italy, will open this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. in the council chamber of Castiglione and will continue until Saturday. The sessions are open to everyone.

Researchers from thirteen Italian universities will engage in roundtables and debates about ongoing studies and their prospects. Topics cover all aspects of medieval monastic life, which Giancarlo Andenna, full professor of history at the University of Milan and scientific coordinator of the initiative, has described as the multinational corporations of the Middle Ages.

Social and Organizational Role of Monasteries

“Monastic history is significant not only from a religious perspective. ” — emphasizes Renata Salvarani, organizational coordinator of the conference. “Between the 9th and 12th centuries, monasteries represented, across Europe, the most widespread organizational model at economic and territorial levels.

Just think of the Order of Cluny, with its network of 5,000 abbeys and its internal taxation system. Studying these networks means ultimately understanding not just the rules of behavior of various monastic orders, but especially the methods of territorial management.”

Focus on Mantua and Garda Lake

The conference features extensive discussions on Mantuan realities and those of the nearby Garda basin: Giuseppe Gardoni from the University of Verona will present the archives of Sant’Andrea in Mantua, while Renata Salvarani, from the Catholic University of Milan, will discuss the monastery of Maguzzano, a dependency of San Benedetto in Polirone, and Angelo Baronio from the University of Piacenza will talk about the Leno Abbey.

Public Lecture and Monastery Visit

An event of particular interest is the public lecture scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30 p.m. at the Collegio delle Vergini, focusing on aspects of daily life in the Middle Ages. Giancarlo Andenna will illustrate this through images of the famous Bayeux Tapestry.

On Saturday afternoon, a visit to the Castiglione monastery of Santa Maria, a dependency of the Brescia-based Santa Giulia, and its archaeological area are planned. An ancient Roman villa has been uncovered there.

Information: Culture Office Comune di Castiglione delle Stiviere tel. 0376/679256 cell: 347/24 09363.