The town and the Abbey of Chiaravalle are part of the Municipality of Milan from 1923, when, with other ten municipalities in the suburbs (Greco, Turro, Affori, etc), it was annexed to the city to enlarge the “great Milan”.
The documented history of Chiaravalle dates back to the twelfth century and to the Abbey’s construction, founded in 1135 in a place called Bagnolo “in loco” Roveniano. The name “Chiaravalle” derives from the French abbey of Clairvaux, founded by Bernard of Fontaines in Burgundy.
The construction of the current church begins only around 1150-60, from East to West, with the internal plant in the shape of a Latin cross, three naves, a projecting transept and a rectilinear apse, flanked by a square cloister looking on to the buildings of the monastery.
The works start from the apse and choir to enable the start of the religious practices, together with the dormitory and the common areas for the monks.
In 1196 the first altars are consecrated and the May 2, 1221 the Archbishop Enrico Settala consecrates the completed church.
The Abbey is in some way the “heart” of the village: it is the parish for its people and around it different activities take place: cultural, social, recreational and spiritual as well.
Inside the Abbey there are a small shop, guest quarters in which you can be accommodated for a short period, an oratory, a conference room and a library.