WHAT SHOULD YOU CERTAINLY VISIT IN  SESTO AL REGINA?

 

THE ABBEY OF SANTA MARIA IN SYLVIS

 

Sesto al Reghena is a small village in the province of Pordenone with a name that has its origins in Roman times. Sesto comes from the six Roman miles that the village was distanced from the major Roman city of  Concordia Sagittaria (now in Veneto). Reghena is the name of the river that runs through it.

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The main attraction of this village is the wonderful Abbey of Santa Maria in Sylvis. This Benedictine Abbey, was devastated in 889, it was rebuilt as a fortified building and took on the looks of a Medieval castle. The parts still re­maining of the original Abbey are the entrance tower, the Basilica, the Abbey's residence (which is now the Town Hall), the Abbey chancellery and the presby­tery.

FRESCOES OF GIOTTO AND HIS PUPILS

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What makes a visit here so special? The Basilica, built in Romanic­-Byzantine style, is decorated with a cycle of frescos by the school of Giotto. The stunning 14th and 15th centuries frescoes inside show you a very rare "Lignum Vitae" - "Tree of Life", of which there are only three in the entire region. There are also the stories of Saint Benedict. 

 

THE URN OF SANT'ANASTASIA

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In the crypt you can see another rare art work from even earlier times. The Urn of Sant'Anastasia which is stored in a marble block carved with images from the Lombard period (eighth century), it probably once served as a marble lectern.

 

THE LAPIDARY MUSEUM

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Within the abbey is also a small museum where you can view the 'Lapidaria' (pieces of stone with inscriptions) from bygone days.

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