Where silence meets the soul and history whispers through time

A Sanctuary of Memory and Spirit Overlooking the Strait

The Monastery of the Visitation of Holy Mary stands as a profound testament to Reggio Calabria’s spiritual heritage—an enduring place where silence intertwines with centuries of devotion. Its origins date back to 1754, when the three Musitano sisters, daughters of one of the city’s most distinguished families, chose a life of cloistered dedication. Their family residence became the cradle of the first monastic community, which soon welcomed twelve women committed to contemplation and faith. Despite earthquakes, political tensions, and periods of persecution, the Order officially recognized the community only in 1840. Over time, the monastery migrated across different areas of the city until its most recent establishment in 2005 at the Campi di San Nicola di Ortì, nestled at the foothills of Aspromonte.

Today, the monastery’s historic former location begins a new life as Reggio Calabria’s upcoming Civic Museum. Through meticulous restoration, its halls will showcase artworks and artifacts spanning from the Byzantine era to contemporary times, creating a cultural bridge with the nearby National Archaeological Museum, home to treasures of Greek and Roman antiquity.

While the new monastery remains closed to visits due to its cloistered nature, its architectural serenity can be admired from afar. Overlooking the Strait of Messina, its structures—cloister, church, and guesthouse—embody humility and simplicity. Inside, the church’s stone arches, luminous windows, and the mosaic of the Sacred Heart by P. Ivan Marko Rupnik reflect the spiritual purity central to the Visitandine tradition inspired by Mary and Elizabeth.