The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1891-01-22
WAKEM ANS TOURS
The Tale Of the Origin Of Val
Iombrosa.
This Pretty City of Italy and the
Monastery Built by Giovanni
Gualberto Described.
Copyright, 1917.

1tdAys NOV 1f, loSV.-
That Is a sweet old tale the books tell
about the origin of V~allombrosa. 1t is
both sweet and largely true. A la of
arms about to take life in revenge for
the murder of his own brother, sud-
denly filled with divine compassion for
his enemy, forgave him. This man
Giovanni. Gualberto, to commemorate
his salvation from a damning deed,
built the monastery of Vallombrosa,
nearly 900 years ago. Milton. in the
three lines,
''Thick as autumnal leaves that strew the
brooks
In Vallombrosa, where tn Etrurian
shades
High overarch'd embower-"
made V%allombrosa endlessly live in the
minds Of men. If to the monastery's
suppression had been added its mater
ial destruction, it would still forever
arise against it's emerald mountain-side.
as millions, reading Millions words, see
the vision he saw in his swift longing to
again dwell with it's monks, and yearn
as he yoarned to know the cool depths
of its restful shade.
About 1000 feet from Vallombrosa's
gates is a fountain of the purest water,
leaping from an everything spring. On
a summers day in zoos Giovanni paused
at this %fountsin in search of a hermit
age. His family was one of the noblest
of Tuscany, from the royal race of the
Carlovingians. He was reared to the
fortune of arms and received the edu-
cation of a nobleman of his time. In
his early life his career was reckless
and fiery. One of his bestowed friends,
Visdomini, quarreling with his idol
lied brother, Hugo, plunged a dag
ger into his heart and killed
him. Giovanni swore vengeance upon
Visdomini, pursuing him in vain for
years. At last n morning of Good
Friday in zoos, when on his way to Flor
ence accompanied by his body-guard, he
suddenly met his enemy in a narrow,
rock-bordered forest path. Visdomini
was at Giovanni's mercy. The aveng-
ing brother drew his sword and called
upon the murderer to prepare for in
slant death. Without attempting de-
tense, no fell upon his knees, and, with
hands outspread in the form of q cross,
sued for mercy. The mode Of prayer
touched the heart of Giovanni. Spring.
ing from his steed he lifted his enemy
to his feet, forgave him, and dismissed
him with his blessing.
This much is true; act as heroic and
God like as eve impassioned rhymer
sung. Then perhaps legend comes; if
legend, still tender, fitting sequel to
glorious self-conquering. Filled with
hn1u ou,a ,pith ,,b,N 10 Lo5 ..-.l
Giovanni s%traightway sought the neigh
Frustrated himself before a crucihx in
prayer. Long and earnestly be gazed
upon the figure of Christ above him.
Lo! the image bent its head as if with
blessing at his act of mercy. Thereaf-
ter follows historic truth. Giovanni re-
lated the miracle to the abbott;
abjured his hayward career; sought
to enter the brotherhood: but
was for a time dissuaded on account of
his noble fathers opposition; but finally
took the religious VOWS of the order in
April, 1904. His piety soon became re-
nowned. On the death of the abbott of
San Minlato in zoos he was chosen to
succeed him, but refused the Office I'M
der a desire to seek a still more solitary
retreat; and it was at the fountain near
the peak Of the ~Pratomagno mountain,
whore he had halted in his solitary
wanderings. Near the spot. which was
then called Acquabella, he found two
hermits, Paolo and Guntelmo, who were
living in huts. These joined him, and
there soon was gathered a little
community of monks and hermits.
Their sulrerings, privations and self
Inflicted fortunes were horrible.
Robbers and wild beasts surrounded
them, and both preyed upon them saw
agely. Their homes were at first low
huts with a cross planted before each,
and a central place for prayer; while a
rude wooden paling enclosed all. The
fame of their sanctity became so great,
that gifts flowed in upon them from
every hand. Emperor Conrad H., the
Empress Gisela and all the court visited
them and left generous presents. Com
plete ordinances of the Benedictines
were finely adopted. The original her.
mitage, Eremo, built in 1913, was re-
peatedly enlarged, until finally COM
pleted in 164O as the structure stands
today.
The order of Vallombrosans, 500 years
after the death of San Giovanni, which
occurred in 1913, after he had attained
the ripe age of SO years, had become
the richest and most powerful in Italy;
and this one old monastery held their
chief treasure. For this order Ciambue
painted his priceless Madonna; Perm
gino, his marvellous Assumption. But
Vallombrosa's dark days came in with
the French revolution. When Ma
poleon's council debated whether the
Vallombrosans should be spared, be-
cause they kept the wolves thinned in
the mountains, it was asked,
''Shall we have monks or wolves?"
"Wolves!" was the answer.
The monastery and church we're de-
spoiled of their priceless treasures; the
immense domains were seized, and the
monks were driven from their cloisters.
Then, when Napoleon fell and Tuscany
welcomed back the sway of the Austri-
ans, the monks were reinstated. but
their matchless paintings, wondrous
vestments, their art treasures and their
stores of books and priceless manu-
scripts had been scattered forever. Vic.
tor Emanuel, in 1860, at the
italian disestablishment, completed
their extinction here. The place is
now used as an agricultural school, with
a corps of resident professors; and lust
"a ooO NaUOIH,
one Of the Italian signal and weather sta
tions of today. Beautiful as ever is the
matchless environment. No ruthless
hand can drive from its cloisters the
forms with which your fancy peoplesit.
San Giovanni and Milton are still here.
Vallombrosa's bells still call you and I
from a Thousand leagues away. and their
echoes will never cease their melodies
while Pratomagno mountain stands.
If you go to Vallombrosa, walk. 1t is
only seventeen miles as the crow flies;
perhaps twenty-five, by the enhancing
way. Every mile of it gives changeful
and bewitching views in that most
dreamful Of all garden spots OF Italy,
the valley of the Arno. Leaving Flor
ence by the Porta ALA Croce, the way
leads along the right bank Of the Arno.
Scores of white valleys thread it as
pearls upon q necklace, and here and
there are crosses and quaint old shrines.
At Pontassieve. the road diverging from
the Arno, leading over the hills; and
the real ascent of Pratomagno to VAL
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