St. Spirit’s Abbey, Comignago
Itineraries From the Park all around
Minitour Comignago (2/2) 
Unfortunately, the origins of St. Spirit’s Abbey are not known. In 1278 is first mentioned frater Ventura (o Bonaventura ), the institution’s prepositus , the same who orders massive works in 1282.
The complex belonged at the time to and order of regular rectors, later (1495 ?) it passed to Augustinians (the intermediate owners are not known). From the 16th to the entire 18th century a series of commendatory abbots exploit the property passively, until it is sold to private owners (1798). Among these, Antonio Moro, who in the 19th century had an observatory built on the Pennine peak in the Park. Since the first half of the 20th century the presentday owners had all the decayed buildings restored, among which the church and tower, the mansion and parts of the cloisters and existing farmyards.
St. Spirit’s Church, specifically mentioned in 1347, is covered by an ogive vault, but it is difficult to recognise the original elements of its structure. It is open to the public in the morning of holy days for attendance to the Mass.
The abbey tower’s stone first floor dates back to the Middle Ages; the higher floors, rebuilt in bricks, are surmounted by a beautiful bell cell with small marble columns and crutch capitals.
The so-called “castle” of Comignago dominates the Abbey park to the North, and can be reached by the large stairway. As a matter of fact, it is not a mediaeval fortress, just a beautiful 16th century building, as can be seen from the small inner court structure. In the 16th century the feudal lords abandoned in fact the real castle of Comignago, crumbling down on the church hilltop after sustaining two sieges in the 14th century, and built this castlelooking mansion as proof to their prestige. As a matter of fact, this building’s location would have been strategically unsuitable for a mediaeval castle, since the hill to the North looks down on it.
Info
Other informations about itineraries From the Park all around are available on this web site, and nearby the described monument, in English.
Information provided by GASMA (Arona's Archeological, Historical, Mineralogical Group)
For guided tours please contact Associazione ProntoGuide
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Last updated: July 29th 2004