Orvieto Location
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Orvieto
Set atop an oval mesa of eroded volcanic tufa and commanding spectacular vistas of the surrounding Umbrian countryside, the town of Orvieto has been continuously occupied for at least two-and-a-half millenia. The composite vestiges of Etruscan, Roman, Medieval and Renaissance habitation create a setting rich and strange with the layers of history. While small in size and population, Orvieto is nevertheless home to one of Europe's major cathedrals, and has a long history as a center of ceramics and fine craftsmanship. The place of origin for the holy-day of Corpus Domini, Orvieto remains a symbolic reference point for a spirituality celebrating the Incarnation in sacrament and history.
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Umbria
The central Italian region of Umbria presents a varied and subtle landscape of vineyards and olive groves, hills and hilltowns such as Orvieto, Perugia, Assisi and Todi. The homeland of ancient Etruscan civilization, Umbria is also the source of a tradition of Christian spirituality that integrates a transcendent mysticism with deep love of creation in figures such as Francis and Clare of Assisi, Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio and the poet Jacopone da Todi. Marked with the traces and treasures of medieval and Renaissance culture, Umbria is the lively stage for constant interplay between the ancient and contemporary.
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Monastery San Paolo
The Gordon College program is housed in the historic monastery of San Paolo, situated dramatically along the cliff's edge with spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. A central three-storey block includes classroom and studio space, offices, and halls for meetings and worship, a residential zone with rooms for 24 students and four professors or guests, apartments for the staff, and a kitchenette and large sitting area for relaxation. A large courtyard and garden area offer further space for reading and conversation.
A second large wing and cloister--in need of extensive restructuring--will eventually provide a zone for the arts, accessible to the public, with studios, a large gallery for exhibitions, space for theater and musical performances, and quarters for hosting additional groups, retreats, and guests.
A small group of elderly nuns from the Roman Catholic teaching order of the Adorers of the Blood of Christ occupy a separate building on the property.
For a complete description of the Monastery of San Paolo with photographs, go to the e-journal of the Studio for Art, Faith & History.