The first house of the Passionist congregation, founded by St Paul of the Cross in 1737 on the slope of Monte Argentario, with a neoclassical front of 1856 and a view over the Orbetello lagoon.
At a glance
- Type
- Convent, mother house of the Passionist congregation
- Where
- Monte Argentario, Province of Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy
- Coordinates
- 42.4137619° N, 11.1609346° E
- Founded
- 1737, by St Paul of the Cross
- Front
- 1856, neoclassical
Overview
The Convento di San Giuseppe dei Padri Passionisti stands on the slope of Monte Argentario, in the Province of Grosseto, in Tuscany. It is the first house created by St Paul of the Cross, in 1737, for the congregation of Passionist friars — an order that looks back to the mendicant orders, the Franciscans and the Dominicans.
When it was built this was a place for the eremitic life: the country at the foot of the Argentario was malarial. Today, and above all in summer, it is a place of meditation inside a holiday coast.
History
The facade was built in 1856 and is neoclassical in character.
Inside are works of some importance: the Madonna and Child handing St Paul of the Cross the plan of the convent, by Pietro Aldi (1880), which may be taken as the manifesto of the congregation; the Presentation of Mary at the Temple by Sebastiano Conca; and a Madonna and Child holding the Sacred Heart, with St Joseph behind, by Pompeo Batoni.
What you see
The view is the reason many come: the Orbetello lagoon, the Feniglia and the Giannella sandbars, Talamone to the north and Montalto di Castro to the south. From the convent the path continues up to Monte Telegrafo.
A small shop sells religious articles and publications of the congregation, and the herb liqueur Argentarium; the Sorgente refreshment stop is a short way off.
The convent church is small and elliptical in plan, with the portrait of the Madonna Regina dell’Argentario. When a larger congregation is expected, mass is said in the outer courtyard instead.
Practical information
- Address: Via Principe Umberto 15, 58019 Monte Argentario (GR), Tuscany.
- It is a religious house: times of opening follow the community’s life.
Sources
- Cultural Heritage Online historical archive — original Italian entry (beniculturalionline.it), transposed and corrected 2026.
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