Monastero Sant'Antonio in Polesine
FerraraItaly Founded in 1257
A 13th-century monastery in old Ferrara
Monastero Sant'Antonio in Polesine is located in the medieval quarter of Ferrara, in Emilia-Romagna, on what was once an island in the Po River. Beatrice II d'Este founded it in 1257, and a community of Benedictine nuns lives there today. They follow the Rule of Saint Benedict: prayer, lectio divina, and work, which ranges from cooking to weaving to iconography.
The sisters chant eight offices a day, including Lauds, Vespers, and Mass in Gregorian chant. Their guest house is open to those who wish to spend time in silence and rest and to pray alongside them. The nuns' choir, covered in frescoes from the school of Giotto, can be visited almost every day.
What awaits you
Practical information
Who is welcome?
The guest house welcomes those seeking a time of silence, recollection, and rest, and who wish to share in the sisters' daily prayer. It is not intended for passing tourists, nor for students or workers looking for lodging.
Liturgy and prayer
Guests are invited to join the community's prayer as they are able. Lauds, Vespers, and Mass are sung in Gregorian chant; the other offices are sung in Italian, in multiple voices, accompanied by the zither.
Visiting the monastery
The choir and its frescoes may be visited Monday through Saturday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 3:15 to 4:45 p.m., and on Sunday afternoons. Visits are accompanied by a nun or a volunteer; a free-will offering is welcome. Closed during religious feast days.
Setting and surroundings
The monastery is located in the medieval quarter of Ferrara, reached by cobblestone alleyways.
Office schedule*
- Matins04:50
- Lauds06:40
- Mass07:30
- Terce08:00
- Sext12:15
- None15:00
- Vespers17:00
- Compline20:45
- Matins04:50
- Lauds06:40
- Terce07:30
- Mass10:30
- Sext12:00
- None15:00
- Vespers17:00
- Compline20:45
On Thursdays, Vespers is followed by adoration.