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| Piona Abbey, Saint Nicholas (Abbazia di Piona) | |
|---|---|
 Piona Abbey | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Catholic |
| Province | Lecco |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | National monument |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Colico, Italy |
 | |
| Geographic coordinates | 46°07′26″N9°19′54″E / 46.123755°N 9.331581°E /46.123755; 9.331581 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Romanesque |
ThePiona Priory orPiona Abbey,[1] is a religious complex on theLecco bank ofLake Como in the territory of thecomune ofColico, northern Italy.
The abbey is set at the top of a smallpeninsula, the Olgiasca, which – like a crooked finger – points into the lake, creating an inlet.
The original church of Saint Justina was founded in the 7th century; the ruins of an apse behind the current church of San Nicola belong to this original edifice. A new church was added some centuries later, though before 1138, as testified by an inscription reporting its reconsecration in that date. This was followed some centuries afterwards by apriory, with its monastery complex, part of the political-religious network which was led byCluny and its reform movement.
The location, although away from the main town, was on a military route of critical importance in the wars of the times.
The complex was later putin commendam. It was acquired by theCistercian order in 1938.
The abbey is inLombard Gothic style, with French influences. The church has a single nave, measuring 20 x c. 8 m; the current edifice dates mostly from the 12th century reconstruction. The bell tower dates from the 18th century. A previous one, with an octagonal plan, was located on the other side of the church.
The apse has internally some depleted frescoes, dating from the 12th-13th centuries, withApostles of Byzantine style. Thecloister has an irregularly quadrangular plan, and has round arches supported by columns with different type capitals. The northern wall of the portico has a fresco with a symbolic calendar, depicting the months and the different works associated to them.
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