Abbazia di San Vincenzo al Volturno

The Benedictine Abbey of San Vincenzo al Volturno is located in a favourable position about 2 km from the source of the river of the same name, on the fertile Rocchetta plain. It is defended by the Meta and Mainarde mountains to the west and by the Matese massif to the south. The history of the monastery is recorded in the Chronicon Vulturnense, an illuminated manuscript written in 1130 by monk named Giovanni who had, in turn, made use of monastery records dating from the 8th to the 11th century. According to the Chronicon the monastery was founded at the beginning of the 8th century by three noblemen from Benevento (Paldo, Taso and Tato) who were seeking a suitable location in which devote themselves to a spiritual and ascetic life. The fact that their chosen area was inhabited in the late Roman period is attested by the remains of the church and the 5th-6th century A.D. cemetery area.