The Monastery of St. Benedict in Subiaco

If you are looking for a spiritual place where peace and silence prevail, we recommend visiting Subiaco and exploring the Monastery of St. Benedict, also known as Sacro Speco, in the Lazio region.

The monastery, perched on a cliff overlooking the Aniene River in the municipality of Subiaco, stands at the exact location where the monk sought refuge as a hermit: a cave on Mount Taleo. Today, the monastery is a spectacular testament to monastic life and one of the most incredible spiritual places in Italy; visiting it will allow you to take a journey back to the Middle Ages.

We have created a guide on how to visit the Monastery of St. Benedict with photos and maps.

Just outside Subiaco, in the cave where St. Benedict retreated as a hermit while dictating the Rule of the Ora et Labora order, lies the Monastery of St. Benedict in Subiaco. This monastery, along with that of Santa Scolastica, St. Benedict's sister, is one of the twelve monasteries founded by St. Benedict along the Aniene Valley that has not been destroyed. It consists of two overlapping churches and chapels and caves that follow the wave-like pattern of the rocky wall.

At the heart of the structure is the Sacro Speco, the natural cave where St. Benedict lived for three years as a hermit, accessed via a staircase leading through the enchanting Sacred Wood.

Not too far from there, you can visit the shepherds' cave, where St. Benedict began to preach, and the Chapel of St. Gregory, which features the fresco of St. Francis of Assisi: it is said to have been created three years before his death during his stay in 1223-1224.

You can admire the monastery's grandeur from the exterior, but it is the interior spaces that will leave you speechless. Reach the little churches and chapels that follow an irregular pattern to admire works and frescoes.

From the entrance of the monastery, you will arrive at the Upper Church, a marvel completely covered with frescoes from the Sienese and Umbrian schools depicting the lives of Jesus and St. Benedict.

A staircase will then lead you to the Lower Church, where you will find the Holy Cave. Outside the structure, you can finally visit the small cemetery of the Speco monks and St. Benedict's Rose Garden.

The monastery is one of the stops on the Way of St. Benedict, which goes from Norcia to Cassino.

The monastery is open every day from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM and from 3:00 PM to 6:30 PM. Access to the Sanctuary of the Sacro Speco is free. During liturgical celebrations, it is not possible to visit the Upper Church.

From Rome, Subiaco can be reached by taking the A24 Rome-L'Aquila highway, exiting at Vicovaro-Mandela, and then taking the SS 5 Tiburtina-Valeria until the fork with Arsoli. From here, follow the Sublacense road until you reach the town. For more information, visit https://monasterosanbenedettosubiaco.it.