The presence of the Poor Clares in Monte Sant’Angelo is part of the broader phenomenon of the spread of the female Franciscan order in southern Italy, which developed between the 13th and 14th centuries.

The history of the convent complex of the Poor Clares of Monte Sant’Angelo began in 1404, when Archbishop Nicholas II of Imola authorized the foundation of the monastery under the title of the Holy Trinity. The construction was financed by Gargano nobleman Antonio Poldeo.

Located near the ancient Junno district, the convent fit perfectly into the medieval urban fabric of the city. Over the following centuries, the building developed according to the canons of Apulian monastic architecture, with stylistic overlays reflecting different historical and artistic phases. During the 16th century, the convent church was enriched with an elegant rose window, with four intertwined sirens arranged on an eight-spoked wheel, a symbol of the medieval Christian iconographic tradition.

In the seventeenth century, the facade was renovated and decorated with the coat of arms of Archbishop Domenico Ginnasio (1586-1606), a key figure in promoting restoration and artistic interventions in the Gargano religious context. In the 18th century, the church was enlarged and renovated in Baroque style, with the addition of marble altars, giving it a new decorative richness.

After centuries of monastic life, the Poor Clare community was suppressed in 1887. The church was abandoned and the entire complex suffered damage, aggravated by earthquake events. However, thanks to restoration work, the building has once again become an active place, welcoming new functions. The church now houses the Confraternity of the Holy Trinity, which takes care of the management of liturgical activities.

An important and often little-visible part of the complex is the burial crypt located beneath the church, consisting of four rooms that hold the remains of the nuns. The graves, lying on wooden boards, are accompanied by rosaries, crucifixes and medallions: objects that testify to a life dedicated to prayer.

Finally, a curious element of local tradition originates in the monastery itself: the creation of the typical dessert called “stuffed host.” According to legend, it was born accidentally when the nuns tried to pick up caramelized almonds that had fallen on a host. From that episode was born a dessert that still today represents a specialty of Gargano gastronomy.

In 1995, the former monastery underwent a new phase of redevelopment, becoming home to the “Giorgio Otranto” Center for Micaelic and Garganic Studies, established as a branch of the University of Bari. Founded by historian of Christianity Giorgio Otranto (1940-2023), the Center transformed the ancient monastery into an international point of reference for the study of the Micaelic cult and the religious history of the Gargano. Today the Complex of the Poor Clares houses the Municipal Library “Ciro Angelillis “and represents a true multifunctional cultural center.

Bibliography

• Center for Micaelic and Garganic Studies “Giorgio Otranto.” (1995-present). The Poor Clare complex and the Church of the Holy Trinity in Monte Sant’Angelo: history, art and spirituality. Monte Sant’Angelo: University of Bari.
• Otranto, G. (various editions). Studies on female monasticism and the micaelic cult in the medieval Gargano. Bari: Editions of the Centro Studi Micaelici.
• Municipality of Monte Sant’Angelo. (2000). The religious and architectural heritage of the Junno district. Monte Sant’Angelo: Municipal publications.
• FAI – Fondo Ambiente Italiano. (2012). Places of the Heart: Convent of the Poor Clares and Church of the Holy Trinity [Historical-artistic fact sheet].
• Gargano folk traditions. (2010). The stuffed host: history and legend of a convent dessert. Monte Sant’Angelo: Local editions.