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Charterhouse of Padula (or Charterhouse of San Lorenzo)
‘Certosa di Padula’ The History
The Certosa of Padula, or The Certosa of San Lorenzo, was once a monastery, today is one of the largest monumental complexes in southern Italy, a UNESCO heritage site and one of the largest in Europe.
The construction, began at the times of Tommaso Sanseverino in 1306, and lasted until the 1700s. From the atrium, dominated by the large Baroque facade, you pass to the stables, workshops, pharmacy and cellars. The church preserves the altars with refined polychrome scagliola decorations with mother of pearl inserts, the 16th - 18th century frescoes. Also the 18th century majolica floor, the carved and inlaid wooden choirs of the early 16th century.
The layout and view of the large cloister is magnificent: started in the 1580 and finished at the end of the 1700s, it has two orders of arcades and 84 arches. Along the portico there are the Carthusian quarters and at the end, in an octagonal tower, the spectacular elliptical staircase.
The cloister, with its 15,000 square meters, is one of the largest in the world. Today the Certosa is owned by the Italian State.
The route you will take:
Visitors will start the tour, with a guide , from the external courtyard of the Certosa from which they will appreciate the fantastic facade. Then continue, to the cloister of the Foresteria, in the chapels, in the Church and in the Sacristy. Continuing to the bell room, the Chapter room and the Treasury room. From the cloister of the ancient cemetery you enter the Founder's Chapel and the Refectory and then the kitchen.
The guided tour continues towards the Quarto del Prior, the famous spiral staircase and the largest cloister in Europe. It ends in the evocative Vanvitellian elliptical staircase. Some areas such as the Library and the Cellars can only be visited with prior authorization.
You can freely visit the provincial archaeological museum of western Lucania (free access).
The construction, began at the times of Tommaso Sanseverino in 1306, and lasted until the 1700s. From the atrium, dominated by the large Baroque facade, you pass to the stables, workshops, pharmacy and cellars. The church preserves the altars with refined polychrome scagliola decorations with mother of pearl inserts, the 16th - 18th century frescoes. Also the 18th century majolica floor, the carved and inlaid wooden choirs of the early 16th century.
The layout and view of the large cloister is magnificent: started in the 1580 and finished at the end of the 1700s, it has two orders of arcades and 84 arches. Along the portico there are the Carthusian quarters and at the end, in an octagonal tower, the spectacular elliptical staircase.
The cloister, with its 15,000 square meters, is one of the largest in the world. Today the Certosa is owned by the Italian State.
The route you will take:
Visitors will start the tour, with a guide , from the external courtyard of the Certosa from which they will appreciate the fantastic facade. Then continue, to the cloister of the Foresteria, in the chapels, in the Church and in the Sacristy. Continuing to the bell room, the Chapter room and the Treasury room. From the cloister of the ancient cemetery you enter the Founder's Chapel and the Refectory and then the kitchen.
The guided tour continues towards the Quarto del Prior, the famous spiral staircase and the largest cloister in Europe. It ends in the evocative Vanvitellian elliptical staircase. Some areas such as the Library and the Cellars can only be visited with prior authorization.
You can freely visit the provincial archaeological museum of western Lucania (free access).
Tour guided - Making the reservation
WHAT DO I NEED TO BOOK?
We advise all groups to book a time slot a few weeks in advance of their visit.
Individual tickets: individual tickets must be purchased for all participants except those eligible for free admission (full list available here). Once the group tour has ended (90 min), participants may continue visiting the museum on their own.
Only european tour guides can be granted permission to speak publicly in the museum. Once arrangements have been made tour guides may take the group around the museum at the booked time slot.
Individual tickets: individual tickets must be purchased for all participants except those eligible for free admission (full list available here). Once the group tour has ended (90 min), participants may continue visiting the museum on their own.
Only european tour guides can be granted permission to speak publicly in the museum. Once arrangements have been made tour guides may take the group around the museum at the booked time slot.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
The times of entry to the places are available >>> here <<<. For the cost of the guided tour contact us , we will offer you the best service at the best cost.
