October it’s a month full of eventsbecause we are entering the heart of autumn, a wonderful period of the year in which the landscape is tinged with the colors of the foliage and the tables are enriched with exceptional products, such as pumpkin, mushrooms and chestnuts.
In Emilia-Romagnathe Italian region with the largest number of DOP and IGP products (44), the month of October is full of events, such as those proposed every weekend by the initiative called Monasteries open. In this case, in fact, the project aims to enhance the territory of the region through a route of rediscovery of the oldest and most beautiful local monasteries, through itineraries that pass through the most emblematic sacred places.
Let’s see in detail what it is and what it is more than 80 events in the program.
Emilia-Romagna and events on sacred places
There are more than 80 events that the Open Monasteries initiative promotes Emilia-Romagna in the October weekend: many outdoor activities will be planned, such as trekking excursions along the religious pathsguided tours of sanctuaries and sacred places, musical performances with sacred themes and gastronomic discoveries of traditional local monastic recipes.
The initiative, promoted by Apt Servizi Emilia-Romagna in collaboration with the Episcopal Conference of the Emilia-Romagna Region and the Cammini dell’Emilia-Romagna circuit, aims to promote the territory and its most symbolic sacred places also thanks to peculiar activities such as Carolinian writing lessons, excursions in the Circuit of the 21 Paths and Pilgrimage Routes of Emilia-Romagna and much more, from Piacenza to Rimini also crossing the cities of Ferrara and Ravenna.
All Monasteries events Open on the weekend of October
Piacenza
He Monastery of Bobbionext to Piacenza, on Saturday, October 5th, you can attend the “Rosa sine spina” bagpipes concert, where some interesting manuscripts from the medieval era will be played by skilled musicians.
Parma
In Parma, the first 3 Saturdays of October the Diocese offers a visit to the splendid Baptisterieswhile the four Sundays of the month the Center for Studies and Archives of Communication – CSAC of the University of Parma opens the XIV century. The abbey of Valserena. On Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October, however, visitors will be welcomed in the San Francesco del Prato Churchfor the guided event above the armory, which will allow you to admire more the apse and the frescoes of the religious building.
Even in the Parma area, along the Via dei Linari, every Sunday of the month u Monastery of Lagrimonewhere you can also meet the cloistered Poor Clares, or walk in the Cavalieri Valley, at the Pieve di Zibana and along the Lugagnano Bridge.
A Langhiranostill in the province of Parma, two monasteries will be open on Sunday, October 13, 20 and 27: the Monastery of Lagrimone and the Benedictine Abbey of Torrechiara. At the end of the excursion there is also a lunch at the Refectory of the Abbey of Torrechiara.
A Bustedhowever, on Saturday October 5 we can give it to us trekking in the city on the track of beautiful places of worship and in the direction of Monastery of Santa Maria degli Angelion the Via Francigena. On Sunday, October 20, instead, the Ducal Chapel of San Liborio of the Royal Palace of Colorno will allow a guided tour that explains the monastic life of the Convent of the Dominican Friars, while in Trust Friday 18 October you can visit the Convent of the Capuchin Friars Minor.
Reggio Emilia
A Campagnola Emiliain the province of Reggio Emilia, there is the church of Sant’Andrea al Castellazzo, known as the “forgotten Matilda church”. Matilda of Canossa stayed there in 1108 and you can visit the weekend of October 5 and 6. On October 12, instead, the initiative “Casina and its Parish Churches” will be held, a journey through the ancient churches of Reggio Emilia from the XI / XII century, with a stop at the Parish Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Pianzu.
Sunday, October 6 at Rubiera We discover an old hospital and the Sanctuary which houses the largest collection of Ex Votos in Italy, along the Via Romea Germanica Imperiale. Also on October 5, there will be a guided tour of the Parish Church of Toano, overlooking the Castle of Carpineti and on the Bismantova Stone. In the same Church different demonstrations will take place on the dates of October 5, 12, 13, 19 and 27.
Also, the doors will open on October 5th the Abbey and the Benedictine Monastery of Marolawhile on October 12 you will be able to access the recently renovated Benedictine Hermitage at the foot of the Bismantova Rock.
Modena
A Locksmithsin the province of Modena, on Sunday 5 and 19 October visitors will be able to discover the church of San Geminian, from the 17th century, accompanied by a guide. In the’Abbey of NonantolaRather, different activities will take place: Saturday, October 12, a workshop for children in the abbey’s garden, where the old cloister used to be. For adults, on Sunday 6 and 27 October, there will be guided tours of the Abbey and the museum, as well as a Carolingian writing and hat miniature workshop.
Bologna
In Bologna, the Convent of San Martino Maggiore organizes a pilgrimage designed for the little ones on Saturday, October 5. The same place, on Saturday October 26, offers a guided tour of the Basilica, the cloister and the sacristy, with the support of an expert guide.
On Sunday, October 13, you can take part in a journey that passes through some of the most suggestive places of faith. Bolognese hillsstarting from the Basilica of San Martino Maggiore and passing through the Church of San Martino in Casalecchio di Reno, with a stop at the Sanctuary of the Madonna of San Luca.
Also, Sunday, October 6, in Convent complex of San Martino Maggiore the XXVIII Edition of the International Review of Vêpres d’Organo will be held.
Ferrara
“A via di u spiritu” is an itinerary that retraces the ancient routes of medieval pilgrims, starting from the Abbey of Pomposa in Codigoro (FE) and arriving at Lido delle Nazioni in the Po Delta This suggestive itinerary will be at the heart of an excursion organized for Saturday, October 5.
Sunday, October 6, the same theme will inspire a journey starting from valleys of Comacchio to get to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Woods. Even on October 6, in Argenta (FE), it will be possible to visit the Sanctuary of the Celletta and attend a conference that traces its history.
Forlì-Cesena
In High Wiseprovince of Forlì-Cesena, there are many proposals. Every weekend, from Friday to Sunday, it is possible to book two days of excursions along the Via Romea Germanicafollowing the route described by the Monk Albert of Stade in 1236. The program includes two stages that they cross the Apennines: one starting from Santa Sofia and arriving at Bagno di Romagna, or following the historical route of Civitella, and the other from Bagno di Romagna to La Verna. On the way we will visit the Hermitage of Corzano and the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta in Bagno di Romagna. Also, on October 4, a conference on the Via Romea Germanica will be held in Bagno di Romagna with videos and readings taken from the Annales Stadenses of 1250.
Sunday, October 6 will be organized a 20 km trek along the Camino di San Francescoon the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the imposition of the Holy Stigmata, starting from Bagno di Romagna up to the “Sacro Monte”. Also on October 5, an excursion will take the participants from the commemorative stone of the victims of the Carnaio massacre to the Sanctuary of Corzano and the parish church of San Peter.
On Sunday, October 27, a walk along a mule track is planned guided tour of the Sanctuary and the Rocca di Corzanoconcluding with the Festa di u Zambudello, traditional sausage. On October 5th you can also visit the Sacred Art Museum of the Basilica of Santa Maria Assunta. On the 5th and 6th of October, in the Mercato Saraceno, parishes and churches full of works of art will be opened, and the same weekend the Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Canton and the Hermitage of Montepaolo will also be opened.
In addition, on October 13 a Castrocaro Terme An extraordinary opening of the Fortress that houses the Church of Santa Barbara is planned.
Ravenna
Sunday, October 13, in the picturesque village of Brisighella (RA), it will be possible to participate in a guided tour that explores the Convent of the Observance, including the church, the cells and the cloister.
Rimini
A Riminion the weekend of October 12-13 and 26-27, the doors open the San Bernardino Church and the old sacristy with the 18th century Crucifix by Innocent da Petralia. During the visit, it will be possible to meet the Poor Clares who live in the Convent and share moments with the cloistered nuns.
On October 12, at Sant’Agata Feltria (RN), a meeting dedicated to female monasticism will be held. In the same month, every Sunday, the Monastery of Santa Caterina and Barbara, part of the Way of San Francesco, will be accessible in Santarcangelo di Romagna. Here you can visit the circular cave under the monastic complex and walk along the ancient medieval road that crosses the convent garden.
Endless, a Pennabilly (RN), Sunday October 27, there will be a guided tour of the Monastery of Servi del Paraclito and the Museum of Montefeltro.