Certosa di San Giacomo

Certosa di San Giacomo

Location within Italy
Monastery information
Order	Carthusian
Established	1371
Disestablished	1808
People
Founder(s)	Giacomo Arcucci
Site
Location	Capri, Italy
Coordinates	40°32′51″N 14°14′43″E / 40.5475°N 14.24528°E / 40.5475; 14.24528
Visible Remains	Substantial
Public Access	Yes

Location of Certosa di San Giacomo on Capri near Marina Piccola

Certosa di San Giacomo is a Carthusian monastery on the island of Capri founded in 1363 by Giacomo Arcucci. The charterhouse has three main areas: the pharmacy and women's church, the buildings for monks, and those for guests. The cloister (Chiostro Grande) is of a late Renaissance design, while the Chiostro Piccolo features Roman marble columns.^[1]

History

Count Giacomo Arcucci, a secretary to Joan I of Naples, established the charterhouse in 1371. He later became a monk himself in 1386.^[2]

In 1553 the monastery was restored and fortified and a tower was erected which collapsed in the 18th century.^[1]

There was often conflict between the islanders and the monks, who owned land as well as grazing and hunting rights. During the 1656 plague in Capri, the monks sealed themselves off, whereupon the islanders threw their corpses over the wall of the monastery in retribution.^[2]

Since 1974 the charterhouse houses the Karl Wilhelm Diefenbach museum among others^[3] and is used for cultural events. A high school is also on the premises.^[1]

Certosa di San Giacomo from the Northwest

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Capri: The Charterhouse of St. Giacomo". http://www.capri.com/en/s/the-charterhouse-of-st-giacomo. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 
2. ^ ^{a b} TimeOut Naples. Time Out. 2007. p. 193. ISBN 1846700086. 
3. ^ "Certosa di San Giacomo – Museo Diefenbach". http://www.incampania.com/en/beniculturali.cfm?s=5&Menu_ID=211&Sub_ID=213&Info_ID=4424. Retrieved 2010-10-11. 

External links

• Official site (Italian)