The 13th-century Abbey of Mirasole is situated in the quiet town of Opera, south of Milan. The abbey, keeping the traditions of the Umiliati Order, comprises a mediaeval citadel with a large courtyard, one of the best examples of ancient rural courts. The monastery once manufactured wool, from the sheep shearing process to the weaving and dying of the garments. It was the only place in the region which possessed mallets for making the wool into felt. In turn, the monastery became a centre for Milanese craftsmen and workshops. In 1797, the monastery's property was donated by Napoleon to Ospedale Maggiore, in thanks for the care and assistance rendered to his wounded Army. The monastery was the centre of one of the major operations of agrarian and hydraulic reclamation of the surrounding marshland.The Abbey of Mirasole has been restored and today serves as an exhibition centre for the Benefactors' Picture Gallery, as well as for the historical-artistic library heritage accumulated over more than 500 years.