From Silence, Stories
“Dal Silenzio, Storie” (From Silence, Stories) is an ethnographic project that reconstructs the history of the women who lived in the Monastery. Created by the Municipality of Cividale del Friuli in cooperation with various institutions, the project unfolds through an evocative visitor route inside the Monastery, enhanced by a dedicated audio guide. It also includes a book and a collection of music and unpublished texts.
Starting from the places and objects that have survived – silent witnesses of the past – the project describes the lives and stories of those who lived inside the Monastery: a fascinating journey through the events witnessed by these imposing walls that will remain a precious legacy for future generations.
Il Presepe delle Orsoline
Art and History Insights
This section offers deeper insight into the origins and development of the Monastery complex, daily life within its walls, the church’s architectural phases, the monumental tombs of Lombard nobles, sculpted elements from its original furnishings, and the cloistered areas of the Ursuline period, leading up to the present day.
The Nativity Scene of the Ursuline Sisters
The artistic Nativity scene created by the Ursuline Sisters in the silence of their cloistered life dates back to the second half of the 19th century. At Christmas time, it is displayed inside the Monastery of Santa Maria in Valle, beneath the bell tower of the Church of San Giovanni in Valle, in the former laundry room – its original location.
The Nativity figures have wax heads and hands, bodies made of tow, and bear names typical of the Friuli region. They bring to life the characters who once animated the markets and streets of Cividale: Iustin (Giustino), Agnul (Angelo), Checo (Francesco), Min (Giacomino), Zef (Beppe), Nadal (Natale), Tin (Agostino), Vigi (Luigi), Toni (Antonio), Bepo (Giuseppe), Meni (Domenico), Ursule (Ursula), Sunte (Assunta), Mariane, Mariute (Mariuccia), Menie (Domenica), Angiule (Angela), Filumene (Filomena), Pine (Pina), Sante (Santa), and many others.
