Capuchin Convent

The foundation of the Capuchin Convent dates back to June 23, 1588, a date that presumably corresponds to the day on which possession was taken of the land where the complex was built. At that time, the Bishop of Cassano, Monsignor Carafa, entrusted the actual construction of the convent to the judgment of a commission of religious figures. This commission included Reverend Luciano Scrugli, chaplain of the Church of Santa Maria delle Armi, Father Provincial Girolamo d’Acquaro d’Arena, and other Fabbricieri fathers, who laid the foundations for its construction.

Over the years, the convent gained particular importance due to its location, becoming a place of novitiate and study. In 1693, the Blessed Angelo of Acri spent a year there. Following the Murattian suppression, the friars were forced to abandon the structure in 1811, and it was only returned to them after several years. It was permanently closed in 1915 due to a lack of friars.

During World War I, the convent was used as a prison for Austrian and German soldiers. Attached to the convent, which is enclosed by walls, an aula-style church was built, allowing the religious community to access their residences directly from inside. The friars' quarters were characterized by numerous simple, small rooms furnished with minimal furniture and only the most essential household items.

On the ground floor, the inner courtyard is bordered on one side by a portico and was built over a medium-sized artificial excavation, which was dug vertically to collect rainwater. Today, the well that provided the friars with water and the cloister are in a state of neglect, as is the entire complex.

At the rear of the structure, a garden can still be recognized, originally intended to ensure the convent’s self-sufficiency in food production. Later, for a few years at the beginning of the last century, the garden was repurposed as a city cemetery, traces of which are still visible today.

Around 1988, the Superintendence of Cosenza intervened with funding to consolidate and cover only the church. Subsequently, due to the efforts of a group of young locals and a fundraising initiative in Saracena, repairs were made to part of the convent’s roof. However, these interventions were minimal. The convent, in fact, requires substantial and urgent funding.

The Capuchin Convent is located at the foot of the town, slightly away from the residential area. Unlike other convents, it is not positioned with a direct view of the town. The structure can only be reached on foot. Starting from Piazza XX Settembre, one must cross the entire historic center to reach Portanova—where one of the town’s feudal gates was once located—and then continue for about a hundred meters along a cobblestone path. Alternatively, the convent can be accessed via a small road that starts from the main square (Piazza XX Settembre) and passes through the San Pietro district.