The Charterhouse of St Lawrence

The Charterhouse of St Lawrence is located near Padula in the province of Salerno. It is one of the most grandiose monuments of southern Italy and was built from 1306 onwards. During the First World War and from 1940 to 1944 the Charterhouse was used as a concentration camp. It has been supposed that the building has a plan in the shape of St Lawrence's gridiron: the handle is represented by the two arms that close the atrium; the monks' quarters around the Cloister represent the bars of the gridiron, and a large semicircular projecting staircase covered by a dome perhaps represents the basin for the fat. The ticket price to visit the Charterhouse is € 4,00.