Monastero ed Eremo di Santa Chiara

The Monastery of Santa Chiara in Anagni was founded to commemorate the canonization of Clare of Assisi, proclaimed in the city by Alexander IV. Its later hillside eremo, blessed in 1999, reflects the Poor Clares' tradition of prayer and contemplation.

Why it matters

Pope Alexander IV proclaimed Clare of Assisi's canonization from Anagni, and local history associates the monastery of Santa Chiara with that event. A community of Poor Clares continues the religious tradition at the monastery.

What to notice

The courtyard, once called "lo scarico," recalls the monastery's former service function: mules crossed its portico carrying goods to the warehouses. The hillside eremo contains a small chapel and a low, grotto-like room. Bishop Francesco Lambiasi inaugurated and blessed the eremo on 18 June 1999. The monastery church reflects the Poor Clares' emphasis on simplicity.

Context and history

The monastery was founded in the thirteenth century in the period following Clare's canonization. Pope Alexander IV, born Rainaldo di Anagni, proclaimed her canonized from the city. The monastery grew beside the medieval walls, and the courtyard's former name, "lo scarico," recalls its use for moving goods. The 1999 eremo reflects the Poor Clares' tradition of periodic withdrawal into silence, associated with Clare's rule.