The cloister of San Gregorio Armeno was one of Bill and my best discoveries in Naples.
One day we noticed the entrance to a monastary. We had no idea what we would find at the top of the stairs.
It sure was beautiful.
We went in and paid five euros for entrance to the cloister of what turned out to be a very active monastery of nuns.
It was filled with mature trees, shrubs and bushes.
The guide we picked up identified a 19th century sculpture group attributed to Matteo Bottiglieri:
Meeting of Christ with the Samaritan woman at the well.
There were benches along the walls of the open space. I thought this plant looked very well cared for.
The Salotto della Badessa (salon of the Abbess)
has amazing 18 century decoration.
Only a week before I had lamented the lack of a bench in a green space in the densely populated centre of Naples. Now I had found one, not 15 minutes from our apartment.
From our bench the garden was serene and quiet. Contemplation welcomed.
Just off the cloister is a refectory. One of the sisters was organizing the many pockets in her habit.
What a nice room for a communal meal under an interesting fresco!
Just outside the walls we imagined the rush and noise of central Naples,
while inside it was a little slice of heaven,
immaculately tended by the invisible sisters.
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