DOI chapter:
Chap. X: Environs of Florence - The Arno - The Villas of the Grand Duke - Fæsulæ - Vallombrosa
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62268#0383
Ch. X. THROUGH ITALY. 373
are a few prints of subjects taken from Scrip-
ture, or connected with the history of the order,
or the life of the founder. The furniture con-
sists of a very good bed, a table, a desk for
prayer, with a crucifix, and a few chairs ; all
very plain but very neat, and evidently designed
not for luxury but convenience. The supper
was frugal, but not parsimonious ; the conver-
sation of the Father Foresteraio*, a man of a
good countenance and easy manners, was sen-
sible and entertaining. Between nine and ten
he took his leave for the night.
The Abbey of Vallombrosa was founded to-
wards the middle of the eleventh century by John
Gualbertus, a nobleman of Florence, who having
embraced the monastic life in the Benedictin mo-
nastery of St. Afmzizsat Florence, and having re-
fused the dignity of abbot, withdrew from a love of
solitude to the wilds of Vallombrosa. Here he
found two hermits, and assisted by them and a
companion who had followed him from Florence,
he established a monastery which, from the
superior sanctity and industry of its inhabitants
* A title given to the monk who is- commissioned to re-
ceive and entertain guests.
are a few prints of subjects taken from Scrip-
ture, or connected with the history of the order,
or the life of the founder. The furniture con-
sists of a very good bed, a table, a desk for
prayer, with a crucifix, and a few chairs ; all
very plain but very neat, and evidently designed
not for luxury but convenience. The supper
was frugal, but not parsimonious ; the conver-
sation of the Father Foresteraio*, a man of a
good countenance and easy manners, was sen-
sible and entertaining. Between nine and ten
he took his leave for the night.
The Abbey of Vallombrosa was founded to-
wards the middle of the eleventh century by John
Gualbertus, a nobleman of Florence, who having
embraced the monastic life in the Benedictin mo-
nastery of St. Afmzizsat Florence, and having re-
fused the dignity of abbot, withdrew from a love of
solitude to the wilds of Vallombrosa. Here he
found two hermits, and assisted by them and a
companion who had followed him from Florence,
he established a monastery which, from the
superior sanctity and industry of its inhabitants
* A title given to the monk who is- commissioned to re-
ceive and entertain guests.