According to the legend, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux founded the abbey in 1136 on the premises outlined by a dove with wood shavings.
The monks were given the land by Arduino, Bishop of Piacenza, and by the Marquises Uberto Pallavicino and Corrado Cavalcabò.
In the following years the Abbey grew in fame and the monks scattered from there to found other Abbeys.
In 1248 Frederick I called Barbarossa (meaning Redbeard) destroyed a part of it, immediately reconstructed by the monks.
In 1444 the Abbey was subjected to a “Commenda” meaningthat the Abbot was no more chosen among the monks but title and tithes were assigned to illustrious figures living far from the Abbey.
In 1810 Napoleon suppressed the Abbey and the “Commenda”.
Marie Louise, Duchess of Parma, donated the good of the Abbey to the Civil Charitable Institutions of Piacenza.

In 1976 the building became a state-owned property and the decay worsened.
The renovation works, began some years ago, are still undergoing but we can already admire several results.

Two suggestions for the tourists:

• Despite the beauty of the carpet of flower set down the nave during the Corpus Domini feast, we think that the building deserves a visit when it is not oppressed by the crowd to better enjoy its contemplative atmosphere
• To people coming from Sissa and surroundings (November Pork), we recommend a break at the fine spirits shop of the monks just to taste the excellent digestive elixir

spirits of herbal teas and natural colors
Monaci Cistercensi
Chiaravalle della Colomba - Alseno - Piacenza
tel. +39 0423 940132

Chiaravalle della Colomba abbey
the Cistercencian Abbey of Chiaravalle della Colomba - 2nd