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Monastery of Montefalcone in San Polo D'Enza

According to historical tradition, the former Franciscan Monastery of Monfalcone was donated by Guido II da Canossa to St. Francis of Assisi in 1217. The monastery is considered to be one of the first settlements of Franciscan monks in the Emilia region, dating back at least to when the Monastery of Modena was founded. Over the course of the centuries, the settlement of Monfalcone gained considerable importance and underwent many transformations. From a Franciscan Monastery, it became the summer residence of the Bishop’s Seminary, the premises of the University of Reggio Emilia, the summer residence of the Convitto dei Nobili boarding-school, and then the headquarters of the boarding-school of the Municipality of Reggio Emilia.

After undergoing many restoration works, the monastery was finally abandoned by the Jesuit monks in 1859. The building complex has a horse-shoe layout with the church located in the south wing. The ample courtyard, partly covered by a portico, opens on the western side toward the valley of the Enza River. Even in its current state of partial collapse, the monastery is still an imposing sight.

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