Sacred Destinations

An illustrated guide to sacred sites, pilgrimages, religious art, and historic holy places around the world.

San Benedetto Abbey, Subiaco

Sacred Cave (Detail)
Back to Photo Gallery | Back to Article | View Larger | Previous | Next
Sacred Cave (Detail)

A chapel on the left side of the Lower Church contains the holiest place in the monastery, the Sacred Cave (Sacro Speco) of St. Benedict. Here Benedict lived alone as a hermit for three years around 500 AD. Twelve red lamps hang over the cave, representing Benedict's twelve monastic foundations at Subiaco. The chapel contains an altar with a 13th-century Cosmatesque frontal; in the cave itself is a soulful marble statue of the saint by Antonio Raggi (1657), disciple of Bernini. Benedict is shown as a young man, his arms folded across his chest while he meditates on the cross. A marble basket represents the food Benedict received from the monk Romanus.

© Sacred Destinations
4/14/08 10:11 AM
Camera: Canon EOS 400D DIGITAL
File name: xti_7973.JPG

How to license this photo.


Sacred Destinations Home    Contact Us    About Us    About Images    License Photos    Buy Prints    Advertise    Travel Blog    Spiritual Tours    Travel Blog    Timeshares    Privacy Policy
Except where indicated otherwise, all content and images © 2005-08 Sacred Destinations. All rights reserved.
Free content for your Google homepage or website! Get our photo gadget.
Sacred Destinations is an online travel guide to sacred sites, pilgrimages, holy places, religious history, sacred places, historical religious sites, archaeological sites,
religious festivals, sacred sites, spiritual retreats, religious travel and spiritual journeys. We are a Yahoo Pick!
Popular categories: Ancient Mysteries, Biblical Sites, Cathedrals, Catholic Shrines, Dead on Display, Footsteps of Jesus, Luther Sites