Subsidiary of the abbey of Chiaravalle della Colomba (Alseno PC), known by the name of Valserena and dedicated to the Virgin Mary, St Martin and St Ludovico, the abbey stands a stone's throw from the city of Parma.

Compared to Chiaravalle, unfortunately the abbey's history has seen moments of neglect and even outrage; the church has also been used as a depot for agricultural machinery and some premises as a factory to produce tomato puree.

A bit of history:
The abbey foundation was authorized by Pope Boniface VIII in 1298.
It was enlarged several times in the 17th and 18th centuries, reaching around 500 monks.
With the Napoleonic suppression it began its decline, first deconsecrated and then reduced to a mere agricultural warehouse.
The restoration of the structure finally began in the 1980s.
The abbey is currently owned by the CSAC (Communication Studies and Archives Centre of the University of Parma).

For more info:
wikipedia: Abbazia di Valserena
www.csacparma.it: la storia

valserena 2^ part

CSAC
Abbazia di Valserena
Strada Viazza di Paradigna, 1
t. +39 0521 903652
info@csacparma.it

Una nota:
Those interested in learning about Cistercian sites in Italy could consult the book "Abbazie e siti cistercensi in Italia 1120-2018". Silvia Testa Piero Rimoldi