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The living quarters and houses
of the community
(XVIII century) THE BENEDICTINE-CAMALDOLESE
HERMITAGE OF SANT'EGIDIO
On the mountain of Sant'Egidio in the area of Cortona there was
a community of Benedictine Monks already established from the year
1000. The first abbey is documented to have been located in the
area of a cross which can be found there today. After 1300 it was
moved north-east to a place called Vallemagna towards the Nestore
Valley. And then in 1700 it was moved to its present location today
the bishops house.
Of the first two locations there remains only faint traces. Of the
living quarters of the eighteenth century there remains a church
dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, a large guest room and six
of the hermits cells. The view through the woods is stupendous and
the area is surrounded by a mystical peace.
 (XIX
century) LE CONTESSE
The place from which this stupendous complex rises in situated with
a magnificent view and enriched by a wonderful park. It is indicated
in ancient Roman documents under the name "Marignago".
It is here that the first community of Clarisse nuns moved in 1225
shortly after their residence in Targe, where the modern day cemetary
can be found today, and from which they definitively moved in 1581
to the present day convent of Santa Chiara.
After the Clarisse left the place in 1237, a community of Benedictine
nuns moved to Marignano and in 1290 they were united with another
community of Benedictine nuns who abandoned their convent at Montemaggio.
There were two noblewomen who were part of this community one was
a countess from Cegliolo and the other a countess from Montemaggio
and thus the name "Le Contesse" was substituted for "Marignano".
Others think that the name comes from the fact that most of the
women who joined the benedictine convent came from noble families.
In 1718 Iannelli, a Cortonese architect constructed on the 1237
site of the pre-existing church of the Clarisse nuns. It is within
this church that the famous Assumption of the Madonna by Bartolomeo
della Gatta, today in the Diocese Museumwas found. The present day
Baroque church conserves a terracotta figure of the "Madonna
of the Contesse" which was present in the old church. On the
main altar there is a copy of a Byzantine-Crete "Madonna".
the original can be found in the Church of Saint Alfonso on Via
Merulana in Rome.
After alternating ups and downs due to the unifications and suppressions
, the little that remained of the buildings and the church were
acquired in 1891 by the Communità dei Padri Redentoristi,
who turned over the task of restructuring the entire lot into a
complex adapted as a scholastic college to teach pholosophy and
theology to Cortonese architect Domenico Mirri. By chance this architect
was given the task of transforming both Marignano and Targe, two
of his largest projects both followiong the transfer of the Clarisse
nuns from these places. In 1883 he designed the present day "Cimitero
della Misericordia" (the cemetary of Mercy) in the place where
the Clarisse had their second residence and ten years after here
where the clarisse had ther first residence; the monumental complex
that, as Angel Tafi said, adapts itself in a Vasarian sense to the
countryside and the stupendous territory that surrounds it.
For nearly a century at Le Contesse the noble task of increasing
studies and culture. In the seventy years of our century the Padri
Redetoristi due to the decline in attendance, transferred the study
center to Rome and the building was turned into a hospitality house
for conferences and congresses, many of which are held in the nearby
branch of the Scuola Normale di Pisa at Palazzone.
The complex has been renamed Oasi Giovanni Neuman, in honor of a
Bohemian Rodentorista father who was a missionary bishop in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in the United States.
THE SANTA MARGHERITA INSTITUTE
This residence of the Suore Serve di Maria Riparatrici is to be
found at number 15 Via Cesare Battisti. The building was constructed
between 1930-35 and was a gathering point for needy Cortonese children.
Later the institute took the name of G.I.L.E.- Gioventù Italiana
Littorio Estero (Hostel for Foreign-born Italian Youth). It would
house the children of Italians who were residents abroad during
the summer vacation. Until 1979 the institute functioned as a girls
school, but since 1980, after internal restauration, it become the
headquarters of the bishop of the province. At present there is
a community of seventeen sisters who reside in the institute. The
part of the building which is not used by the nuns is let for accomodations:
private parties or groups can be accomodated and have use of the
chapel, a conference room, a dining room for eighty and a room for
preparing meals.
CASA BETANIA
This is a house that is meant to receive guests for touristic or
religious visits. It is located at Via Gino Severini, 50, a short
distance from the Santa Margherita Institute. It is run by the Sisters
of the Stigmata (Poor Daughters of the Sacred Stigmata of Saint
Francis of Assisi) and is decribed by the sisters themselves as
an "oasis of peace for the care of the soul". All year
round bible study classes are held here wwith outstanding speakers.
Betania also offers the possibility for organized groups, families
and individual parties of all faiths and creeds to stay at the house
for modest prices in a family atmosphere with respect and freedom.
DAUGHTERS OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
In the village of Pergo about 6 kilometers from Cortona, the sisters
of this institute, originally from Fiume and moved to different
parts of Italy after World War II. They teach the catechism to children
and young people and are associated with the schools at all levels.
THey are active instructing from the nursery school level (they
run one in Terontola) to the high school level as well as in parish,
church and state organizations. They dedicate most of their time
to education. The community makes one of the antique buildings of
their monastery available to tourists.
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