Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone, Sulmona

The Abbey of Santo Spirito al Morrone has represented for centuries the most important and renowned settlement of the Celestine Congregation as well as the center of cultural, religious, and civil life of a vast territory.

The monumental complex, covering an area of 16,600 sqm, is located just 5 km from the center of Sulmona in the Badia area.

Its origins are linked to the figure of Pietro di Angelerio, a Benedictine monk, hermit, founder of the Celestine order and Pope under the name of Celestine V. He began its construction, probably expanding the little church of Santa Maria dating back to the first half of the 13th century and then promoting the construction of a new church dedicated to the Holy Spirit with an attached Monastery. It was also here that he established the Mother House of the Order following the General Chapter held in June 1293.

Over the centuries, the Abbey underwent various phases of expansion, of which we still have beautiful testimonies, culminating in significant interventions following the earthquake of 1706. The current layout comprises a monumental 18th-century church and an imposing monastery that spreads over five internal courtyards, three larger and two smaller.

The monks inhabited this complex until the issuance of the Napoleonic law of 1806, which ordered the suppression of religious orders. Subsequently, the abbey changed various uses: initially appointed as the Royal College of the three Abruzzos, then as a poorhouse, later as a military quarter with an attached hospital; in 1868 it was transformed into a prison and remained so until 1993. On March 12, 1998, it was assigned to the Ministry for Cultural Heritage and Activities and restoration work began. It is currently home to detached offices of the Superintendence for Historical, Artistic, and Ethnoanthropological Heritage, the Superintendence for Architectural and Landscape Heritage, and the Majella Park Authority.

Guided tours, conferences, exhibitions, and concerts are held here, turning the complex into a driving center of culture.