Section 8 - The Monasteries - The Brotherhood - Period Photographs

Remember the ancient age of Emperor Charlemagne? Well, part of Toirano’s history takes us right back to those early centuries. According to tradition, in fact, the first Benedictine monastery in Toirano was founded at the time of Charlemagne, around the 9th century AD, on the summit of Monte S. Pietro. The monastery prospered for centuries, supported by generous donations from the bishops of Albenga.It was only later, in the 13th century, that Carthusians settled here, after the Benedictines were accused of corruption and removed.The model you can see in this room represents the Carthusian Monastery, a complex of the Carthusian Order, built in 1494 and expanded in the following century, before its partial demolition in the Napoleonic period, when the monks were expelled and their property confiscated.Local devotion is reflected in the objects belonging to the confraternity of the Disciplinants, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin of the Assumption and Saint Sebastian the Martyr.You may be wondering who the Disciplinants were!They were a lay brotherhood devoted to prayer and to works of charity and mercy. During the rites of Holy Week they wore a simple hemp habit, with a cord and hood. Here you can see a beautifully preserved example from the early 19th century, displayed in the case. We entered this room starting from the age of Charlemagne, and now, leaving it, we take a leap forward through the centuries in the history of Toirano. In the chest of drawers, you can see around one hundred original photographs and postcards, offering a vivid glimpse of Toirano between the 19th and 20th centuries, its churches, monuments, and famous caves.And perhaps most captivating of all are the portraits of the villagers themselves, proudly posing for the camera!