Abbey of San Pietro in Valle

The Abbey of San Pietro in Valle is a historic monastery in the Valnerina. It is located in the province of Terni, in the municipality of Ferentillo, at about 370 m a.s.l.

The old monastery is privately owned and used as a hotel residence, while the church belongs to the curia.

It was built in the eighth century by Faroaldo II, Duke of Spoleto, in the places where the hermits Lazzaro and Giovanni are said to have lived. According to a legend, the Duke of Spoleto saw in a dream the same Saint Peter who invited him to build a Benedictine monastery in the place of the present abbey.

A few years later the duke gave up the title and became a monk in the abbey. Since then the monastery was closely linked to the city of Spoleto, welcoming the remains of many of the dukes of the city.

At the end of the 9th century the monastery suffered, as it happened shortly after in Farfa, the sacking of the Saracens and was resurrected only in 996 at the behest of Otto III. In 1234 Gregory IX assigned the abbey to the Cistercians in line with what happened in Lazio under Innocent III.

In 1484 Pope Innocent VIII gave the fiefdom of the abbey to the Cybo. Since 1917 the convent has passed into private hands and today, renovated, it is used as a hotel.

Pope Innocent VIII (Giovan Battista Cybo - i.e. Giobatta remembered as the Roman pontiff who began the merciless witch hunt), as mentioned, constituted a principality for his son Franceschetto Cybo, naming him, in addition to Duke of Spoleto, also Count of Ferentillo and therefore governor of the abbey.

Franceschetto, who married Maddalena de 'Medici, was succeeded by his son Lorenzo Cybo, who married Ricciarda Malaspina, Marquess of Massa and Carrara. Alberico I Cybo was born from the marriage, who, after the death of his mother Ricciarda, also assumed (again at the behest of his mother) the surname of Malaspina.

 

Alberico I Cybo-Malaspina thus became Marquis of Massa, Lord of Carrara, Count of Ferentillo, governor of Monteleone di Spoleto and therefore also lord of the Abbey of San Pietro in Valle. The dominion fief of the Cybo Malaspina lasted until 1730 with Alderano Cybo. The abbey, however, always had the command of the noble Spoleto Ancaiani until its final sale in 1907.

The building is a national monument visited by many tourists for its works of art, such as the cycle of frescoes from the Roman school (1150) prior to Cavallini; the frescoes in the apse by the Eggi master from 1445.

Map: Abbey of San Pietro in Valle