Located between the upland and the valley of the River Olona, Castrum Sibrium was a military stronghold in Roman times and used over the following centuries by the Goths, Byzantines, Longobards and then the Visconti. Ottone Visconti, Lord of Milan, ordered the demolition of Castelseprio in 1287, with the exception of the religious buildings. One of these was the Church of Santa Maria Foris Portas (Latin for ‘outside the gates’) that was built between the fifth and ninth centuries. The now deconsecrated church is an invaluable example of Longobard-byzantine art and contains what is perhaps the oldest painting in the region - an unknown artist painted the stories about the Virgin Mary from the apocryphal Gospels in the apse. In the Fifties, several searches and excavations in the archaeological zone brought to the light the remains of the castle with its towers, part of the Basilica of St. John the Evangelist with the adjoining cistern and bell tower, a small baptistery with two fonts, a church dedicated to St. Paul and the remains of a late medieval cloister.
The Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria Assunta was founded in 737 by Manigunda, a Longobard noblewoman connected to the royal court of Pavia, as a way of fulfilling a vow following a healing. It is one of the first monastic settlements in the area now known as Lombardy, and is linked to the nearby Castrum in Castelseprio and Torba Abbey.
From 2011 Castelseprio - Torba, the Castrum and the Church of Santa Maria are UNESCO world heritage sites.
@carlotta_zamboni and @elena.talarico
INFO
ADDRESS:
- Parco Archeologico di Castelseprio, S. Maria foris portas e Antiquarium: Via Castelvecchio - Castelseprio
- Monastero di Santa Maria Assunta: Via Monastero, 2 - Cairate
OPENING TIME:
Archaeological area of the castrum
- Wednesday: 9.00 -14.00
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 13.30 -17.30
- Sundays and holidays: 9.30-17.30
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Church of Santa Maria foris portas
- Wednesday: 9.00-11.00
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 13.30-15.00
- Sundays and holidays : 9.30-13.00
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
Antique dealer
- Wednesday: 11.30-14.00
- Thursday, Friday and Saturday: 15.30-17.30
- Sundays and holidays: 13.30-17.30
- Monday and Tuesday: closed
ATTENTION:
- For school groups and groups of over 10 visitors reservation required by calling at least one day in advance at the number 366.6632727 at the following times: Wednesday 11.30-13.30, Tuesday, Thursday-Saturday 14.30-16.30
Dog of all sizes allowed in leasch in compliance with the hygiene and public safety rules. Not admitted at the Antiquarium and S. Maria Foris Church*
*For any other question please check the guidelines from the Cultural Cite
AROUND HERE:
ATTENTION: FOR ANY TIME CHANGES AND REGULATIONS IN FORCE, PLEASE VISIT THE RELEVANT ORGANISATION'S ONLINE SITE.
Discover our TOURS.
Plan your stay and your experience in the land of the lakes.
