The monastery was founded in 1080. The first abbot of Praglia, Iselberto dei Tadi, who had become a monk in the monastery of
San Benedetto Polirone in
Mantua, is mentioned in a
Papal Bull of
Calixtus II in 1123. Until 1304 Praglia was under the direction of more powerful abbeys such as that of Polirone, the
Abbey of Santa Giustina in Padua, and
Cluny. By the 14th century the abbey had gained more autonomy, funded by donations of various rulers and families. Most of the cloisters and church were rebuilt in the 16th century. Only the belltower retains medieval construction. The basilica church, dedicated to the
Assumption of Mary (''Santa Maria dell'Assunta''), was designed in 1490 by
Tullio Lombardo. Construction of the nave was completed in 1548, and of the principal door and the cupola in 1550. The abbey has works by many prominent late-
Renaissance painters of the
Veneto. The cupola and large canvases in the library and refectory were painted by
Giovanni Battista Zelotti. He also painted the
Assumption of Mary in the church and the
cupola. The apse was frescoed by
Domenico Campagnola. Chapels have altarpieces by
Alessandro Varotari,
Antonio Badile, and
Paolo Veronese. The monumental refectory is decorated with medallions carved by the Lombardo family, depicting the
Baptism and
Martyrdom of St Giustina, and
Christ Pantocrator. Inside, the large fresco of the
Crucifixion on the rear wall was painted by
Bartolomeo Montagna. The 16th-century library has been converted into a repository for the National Monument Library, and currently houses approximately 120,000 volumes. Many illuminated ancient manuscripts were seized in 1810 after the Napoleonic suppression. The monastery was then closed for nearly two decades. The buildings fell into a dilapidated state and were used as barracks and a storage depot. More manuscripts were lost in 1867 due to the enforcement of the decree that scattered all religious orders. ==Present day==