Abbey of Monte Cassino

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In the 6th century, St. Benedict himself destroyed a Roman shrine on the hill overlooking the ancient village of Cassino to found his first monastery. Here, he established the Benedictine Rule, and the first hospital in Europe. As nearby Naples grew in prestige, the monastery library accrued one of the richest libraries in Europe, becoming a cultural and educational center by the 10th to 11th centuries. Over its long history, the monastery was destroyed several times, most recently by Allied bombing in 1944. After the war, the monastery was rebuilt and is now comprised of several monolithic structures including cloisters, a basilica, and museum. Inside, the frescoes, altars, sculptures, and church organ are jaw dropping. The crypt is unspeakably gorgeous, starting with the beautiful staircases and ending with incomparable mosaics. Here, 5 saints, including St. Benedict and his sister St. Scholastica, as well as a Pope are interred.