Industrious silences in Susa

The Diocesan Cultural Center has reached 25 years of activity, and to celebrate, it is organizing an exhibition consistent with its commitment: the connection between cultural heritage and the territory, between spirituality and local history. Set in the rooms of the Diocesan Museum of Susa, the exhibition "Silenzi operosi" (Working Silences) focuses on the role of the monasteries of the Susa Valley in shaping medieval society, the economy, the landscape, and social relations, recounting their past and the lasting impact they have had on the present day.

Through works of art, paintings, documents, and codices, the exhibition traces the history of the vast network of abbeys, priories, convents, and hospices that dotted the valley. Places such as Novalesa, San Michele della Chiusa, Santa Maria di Oulx, San Giusto di Susa, Santa Maria della Losa, and the Carthusian monasteries of Banda and Montebenedetto were active centers of cultural production, agricultural and artisanal work, hospitality, and innovation.

The title "Silenzi operosi" (Working Silences) evokes this dual dimension: silence as a form of listening, prayer, and discipline, and industriousness as a concrete expression of faith embodied in daily rhythms, the transmission of knowledge, care for the land, and the gestures of building, transcribing, and welcoming.

Among the works on display, several particularly significant artistic works stand out, linked to monastic patronage or originating from suppressed convents: paintings from the ancient Capuchin convent of Susa, the breviary of the Sacra di San Michele, and the foundation deed of the nearly thousand-year-old Abbey of San Giusto, now the cathedral. The exhibition will be further enriched in September with an important return to the city: the sleeve of Saint Francis, a relic linked to the history of the Franciscan convent of Susa, now housed in Paris.

The exhibition is part of the Center's extensive program of activities to mark its twenty-fifth anniversary: meetings, guided tours, special openings, and in-depth discussions, which will also involve the Diocesan Historical Archives and the Chapter Library. It is an opportunity to reflect on how the study, preservation, and promotion efforts of recent years have contributed to rediscovering a significant part of local history, restoring it to public enjoyment.

"Silenzi operosi" can be visited at the Diocesan Museum of Susa from August 4th to October 15th.

Related place

list map

Cathedral of San Giusto

Charterhouse of Madonna della Losa

Charterhouse of Montebenedetto

Diocesan Museum

Municipality of Susa

Sacra di San Michele