For an emotionally rich experience, the Church or Abbey of San Clemente al Vomano is a must-see on your trip in Abruzzo. You will find it on a slope on the right bank of the Vomano river valley and it will amaze you with its blend of art and spirituality. 

A Benedictine abbey, it represents one of the most important monuments in the Valley of the Abbeys. Founded in the second half of the 9th century, according to tradition, at the behest of Ermengarda, daughter of Emperor Ludwig II, and rebuilt in the early 12th century, with restorations dating back to the early 1930s, this place of worship boasts a rich history and an artistic heritage of great value. 

Visiting it, you will already be charmed by the façade of the building: Romanesque in style, it is made of white stone ashlars and bricks; it houses a beautiful architrave portal, dated 1108, with a round arch, also made of carved stone, and spirals based on classical models.

Upon entering, the interior welcomes you with a division into three naves ending in apses. The central one is dominated by the ciborium, one of the oldest and most monumental in Abruzzo, with a dense stucco decoration, dating back to the mid-12th century and signed by master Roberto di Ruggero.

The crypt below, recently restored, houses the bust of Saint Clement; among the church’s highlights, feast your eyes on the frescoes decorating the walls and apses. In particular, linger over the Madonna and Child, attributed to the Abruzzese painter Gentile da Rocca (15th century), and the depictions of the Madonna of Mercy with the kneeling friars, the figures of two Holy Bishops and the theme of the Annunciation, with the representation of the Virgin on her knees in front of an open book and the archangel Gabriel. 

A mystical place that deserves to be gently admired, at the slow pace of the serenity with which only the beauty of art can regenerate the soul, infinitely enriching it with the natural and simple truth of a masterpiece.