Abbey Novaleza - ancient religious complex, founded in the 8th century and located in the territory of the commune Novaleza Italian Val di Susa.

The history of the abbey dates back to the distant 726th year - it was laid on the orders of the Frankish ruler of Susa Abbona to control the pass Monchenizio. In those years, the monasteries were located in strategic locations, and Franks often used them as a starting point for their conquests. The first abbot of the abbey, a Godon, was appointed by the Abbonom.

From the Frankish rulers of Pepin the Short and Charlemagne Novaleza received numerous benefits, among them the right to elect the rector and independence from secular and religious institutions. Over time, ownership of the abbey until the stretch of Liguria, and it was in very close relations with the abbey of San Colombano in the town of Bobbio in the Italian region of Emilia-Romagna. The 817-year Novaleza became the property of the Benedictine Order, flourishing as it happened in the 820-845 m respectively at the rector Eldar.

Unfortunately, in 906, the year the abbey was destroyed by the Saracens, the monks fled to Turin. Passing through the town of Lomellina, they built a monastery burden. Among the escaped monks were later canonized Justus and Flavian, which is in the town of Oulx killed Saracens. In the 11th century Novaleza was rebuilt and, together with the communes Ferrer and Venaus formed a kind of ecclesiastical belt, which for centuries maintained its independence.

In 1646, the year it became the property of the abbey of the Cistercian Order, who ran it until 1798, the year when he was expelled by the government of Piedmont. A couple of years later, in 1802, the year Napoleon instructed management Novalezoy Trappist monks who were to facilitate the transition of French troops through the pass Monchenizio. Later, after the publication of the law on the abolition of the monasteries, the abbey novices were again forced to leave it. Auctioned religious buildings of the complex have been converted into a hotel and seminary library. Only in 1972, the monastery complex was bought by the Government Novalezy province of Torino and was again transferred to the Benedictine Order.

Abbey Novaleza preserved in traces of the past eras. The church, built in the 18th century on the foundations of an ancient, Romanesque, the church, you can see fragments of frescoes, among which deserves special attention the image of St. Stephen, stoned, - it was made in the 11th century. Cloister church was built in the 16th century. Near the monastery is located four chapels in Santa Maria (8th century), San Salvatore (mid 11th century), the San Michele (8-9 centuries) and San Eldrado that remarkable cycle of frescoes of the late 11th century.