A thousand years of monastic history

The Abbey of Grottaferrata is one of the oldest abbeys in Italy still inhabited today: founded in 1004, it has lived through a thousand years of history while keeping the Greek monastic tradition alive. Its story weaves together saints, popes, and cardinals, and shows how a small monastery on the edge of Rome became a one-of-a-kind place, a symbol of the meeting between East and West.

The founding of St Nilus (1004)

In 1004 the Calabrian monk St Nilus of Rossano, by then elderly and renowned for his holiness, came to these hills and here, as tradition holds, received the sign to found a monastery. He died soon after, but his disciple St Bartholomew completed the work, building the church and shaping the community. Greek monks have never left the site since.

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The name "Grottaferrata"

According to tradition, the name comes from a "crypta ferrata" (iron grotto): an ancient Roman structure (perhaps a tomb or a cryptoporticus) sealed by an iron grate, on top of which the monastery rose. From that "iron grotto" came first the name of the abbey, then of the town that grew up around it.

The fortification and the centuries that followed

Between the late 1400s and the early 1500s, Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere (later Pope Julius II), commendatory abbot of the abbey, had it transformed into a fortress, complete with walls, towers, and a moat (a design attributed to the Sangallo circle). In those same years the abbey enjoyed a season of artistic splendor, culminating in the 1600s with Domenichino's frescoes. For centuries it remained a reference point for Greek culture in Italy.

The abbey today

After a thousand years, Grottaferrata is still a living monastic community, keeper of the Byzantine rite, the museum, the library, and the celebrated restoration laboratory. In 2004 it celebrated its thousandth anniversary. It remains a precious stop for anyone who wants to know a different side of Rome and the Castelli. For the religious side see the Greek abbey of St Nilus, and for the art what to see at the abbey.

Frequently asked questions

When was the Abbey of Grottaferrata founded? In 1004 by St Nilus of Rossano; the work was completed by his disciple St Bartholomew. It therefore has more than a thousand years of history.

Where does the name "Grottaferrata" come from? From a "crypta ferrata," an ancient Roman structure sealed by an iron grate, on top of which the monastery rose.

Who fortified the abbey? Cardinal Giuliano della Rovere, the future Pope Julius II, who between the late 1400s and early 1500s turned it into a fortress with walls, towers, and a moat.

Is the abbey still active? Yes: after a thousand years it is still a living monastic community of the Greek-Byzantine rite, with a museum, a library, and a restoration laboratory.

What makes it special in the history of Rome? It is the last surviving Greek monastery in the area, a symbol of the thousand-year meeting between the Christian traditions of East and West.

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Article #657 · Category: Day Trips · Updated: May 2026