Cistercensi foglianti e le abbazie medievali: interventi architettonici a Staffarda e Novalesa

Many of Piedmont’s most important medieval religious buildings have been restored in modern times, significantly modifying their spaces. Many of these, originally built to house monastic communities, were chosen for the settlement of new congregations, such as the foglianti monks. The pre-existence of the church and the community structures ensured that the main liturgical and cenobitic activities could be carried out right from the start, even after significant reconstruction and restoration work. It would be the beginning of the 18th century and the policy implemented by Vittorio Amedeo II marked a moment of updating with the opening of important architectural sites led by a group of technicians, including Tommaso Sevalle, Giovan Giulio Bertola and Carlo Gerolamo Re under the direction of Antonio Bertola. Among these building sites, the essay focuses on the abbeys of Staffarda and Novalesa.