Staying at the Abbey of Sant Albino

Our secd night was spent at this amazing ancient Abbey. It was built on the site of one of Charlemagne's most import victories over the Lombards in 773. He lost two of his close friends in the battle and the church commemorates them. It then became an important centre on the pilgrimage to Rome with graffiti from the 1100's still visible. it was partially destroyed and rebuilt several times through the middle ages and again in the 1700s. The frescos date from the 1500s including the one almost completely gone in the restored cloister where we slept the night. It is quite amazing to think we occupied the same space as pilgrims for perhaps around 1300 years. There are some thoughts that the pilgrim history here may go back to the 5th century.