Abbeys of Tuscany

Basilicas, Pievi, Abbeys, Monasteries and Hermitages of Tuscany

The Dark Age between the end of the Western Roman Empire and the High Middle Ages is characterised by a dearth of written records. This means that the early history of many of the Tuscan Abbeys, Basilicas, Monasteries, Hermitages and Parish Churches of Tuscany is not recorded and they make their first documented appearance in the 10 C. Examination of the structures themselves together with archaeological investigation shows that some of these buildings have had a more or less continuous physical existence since the time of Roman buildings on the same sites while others originated during the dramatic population increase that occurred during the High Middle ages. (This population increase peaked around 1250 and was reversed by the Black Death that killed at least a quarter of Europe's population between 1347 to 1350 - an estimated 25 million people.) In much of Europe, buildings were constructed of timber during the Early Middle Ages, with a resurgence of stone construction for important buildings during the 9 C. However, masonry construction was not extinguished in Italy during this period so that many of the abbeys and churches of Tuscany contain elements that are extremely old. This is in large part because straight timber was scarce while stones suitable for building are plentiful: I should know - my campo is still full of them.

Certosa (Charterhouse) del Galluzzo near Florence

More about the Certosa del Galluzzo

Would you like to stay in a mediaeval monastery? The 9th century Canonica di Greve, a former monastery, is located just 3 km from Greve in Chianti, in the cool foothills near Monte S. Michele national park. The Canonica has been fully restored and offers five bedrooms for up to 10 persons plus all modern facilities. The Canonica is furnished with antiques and opens onto an internal cloister with upper and lower level loggias. Here you can dine, talk, read, sunbath and relax in complete privacy and tranquility. More about La Canonica di Greve.

Tuscan Basilicas

• Basilica of San Miniato al Monte was built beginning in 1018 on the site of a 4 C chapel. Together with the Bishop's Palace, the fortifications and the monumental cemetery, it stands at the top of the hill called Monte alle Croci looking out over Piazzale Michelangelo and the city of Florence. It is a magnificent example of Florentine Romanesque architecture that originally belonged to the Benedictine monks and was then passed to the Olivetan friars in 1373. To the right of the church is the Bishop's Palace (1295-1320), ancient summer residence of the bishops of Florence which then became a convent, a hospital and a Jesuit house.  Highly recommended!
• Basilica of Santa Maria all'Impruneta dates back to the 11C, but it has been rebuilt on several occasions and has a splendid 13C bell-tower and a 14C cloister. Inside there are valuable paintings and sculptures on display including 15C altar-steps and a 14C polyptych. The museum houses sacred ornaments made of gold, furnishings, hangings, votive vases, sculptures made of silver and a precious series of crosses, one of which is attributed to Ghiberti.
• Basilica of San Domenico of Perugia was erected by Giovanni Pisano in the 1304. Around the 1614 the vaults and pillars of the nave collapsed and after the reconstruction by Carlo Madeno of Rome, the church was re consecrated in the 1632. Inside, there are Gothic elements, renaissance windows and the tomb of Pope Benedetto XI. The Archaeological Museum of the Umbria and the State Archives are housed in the adjacent monastery and cloister.
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Tuscan Mediaeval Parish Churches (Pievi)

• Pieve di San Cresci - one of five mediaeval parish churches in the comune of Greve in Chianti.
• La Pieve di Sant'Appiano near San Barberino Val d'Elsa was built in early Romanesque times with a nave and two aisles with apses, a raised altar and crypt below. The original part of the church can still be picked out in the left aisle and in the small hanging arches of the external tribune. The bell tower was struck by lightning in 1171 and, in falling, destroyed almost all the right aisle of the church. It was reconstructed immediately, but in brick, a different material from the rest of the church and in late Romanesque style.
• La Pieve di San Miniato a Rubbiana in San Polo.
• Pieve di Spaltenna near Gaiole in Chianti.
• Pieve di San Giovanni Battista Parish Church Ponte allo Spino - dedicated to John the Baptist - near Sovicille.
• Pieve of San Polo in Rosso recorded since 1070 in the maps of Coltibuono.
• Pieve a Pacina near Castelnuovo Berardenga, with its unusual cylindrical bell tower.
• Pieve di San Leolino near Panzano in Chianti is of 8 C origin. It has a beautiful 14 C cloister, as well as a 13 C alterpiece, a 15 C triptych and two glazed tabernacles attributed to Giovanni della Robbia.
• Pieve di Santa Maria alla Sovara near Anghiari is one of an unusually high density of mediaeval parish churches in the vicinity of Anghiari. Among the others are the Pieve di Santa Maria a Corsano, the Pieve di Santa Maria a Micciano and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Carmine.

Tuscan Abbeys, Abbazie, Abbadie 

• Abbey of Sant'Antimo is one of the most beautiful Romanesque churches in Italy and is located in a wonderful setting 9 km from Montalcino. It is possible that the Abbey of Sant'Antimo was constructed on the site of a Roman villa and it is known with certainty that in the 4th and 5th centuries the village of Castelnuovo dell'Abate, on the hills nearby, was an important inhabited centre, endowed with a parish. Famous for the Gregorian chant of its monks. Highly recommended!
• Abbazia di Spineto (Tenuta di Spineto) was founded by a legacy of Willa, widow of the count Pepone I of Sarteano, who donated the land and the forest of Spineto, and the hill of Moaine to Rodolfo of the Abbey San Salvatore on Mount Amiata. At different times, the Abbey found itself under the protection of Orvieto, the Republic of Siena and the Grand duchy of Florence. In 1627 was entrusted to the Cistercian Order by Pope Urban VIII. The abbey and farm houses on its estate have been restored and are now holiday homes and a conference centre.
• Badia a Passignano - Badia S. Michele di Passignano founded by Sichelmo in 890
• Badia a Coltibuono - near Gaiole in Chianti and now a winery, the mediaeval herb garden has been reconstructed.
• L'Abbadia of San Salvatore - the Benedictine Abbey of San Salvatore on the eastern slopes of Monte Amiata.
• Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore - the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore located 36 km south of Sienna.   Highly recommended!
• Abbazia di Farneta - located in the Chiucio hills of the Valdichiana, on the road between Cortona and Foiano.
• Abbey at Vallombrosa - founded by the monk Giovanni Gualberto of the Florentine Visdomini family and consecrated in 1051.
• Abbadia d’Ombrone and Monastero d’Ombrone near Castelnuovo Berardenga.
• Abbey of San Galgano is a spectacular ruined Cistercian abbey 25 miles south-east of Sienna towards Grosseto. This is a wonderful place to visit at any time and especially during summer. Try to be here before or after the tour buses. The Hermitage of Montesiepi (below) is within walking distance and should not be missed.
• Abbey of Saints Severus and Matyrius (Abbazia dei Santi Severo e Martirio) located 3 km from Orvieto (and hence in Umbria, not in Tuscany) in beautiful surroundings. It is now a hotel but retains its architectural features which fall into three periods: the Romanesque-Longobard period of the 12 C (church and tower). The Countess Matilde di Canossa built the church's dodecagon crenelated tower in 1103.); Premonstratensian (Augustinian) period of around 1240 (Abbot's Palace and atrium of the church); Cistercian period from 1260.
• Abbey di Conéo (Abbazia di Conéo) is a Romanesque structure that was founded by the Vallombrosan (Benedictine) monks at the start of the 12 C and is one of the most interesting examples of religious architecture near Colle Val d'Elsa. The building possesses a number of pre-Romanesque features, with numerous external brackets in the shape of imaginary animals.
• Badia a Isola (Abbadia Isola) is a Romanesque abbey located on the old via Francigena near the walled village of Monteriggioni. Its strange name comes from being build on the only solid piece of land in a large swamp or lake which has since dried out. The Abbey contains some frescos and a famous altar by Taddeo di Bartolo. During the summer, the surrounding flat fields are filled with sunflowers, making the walk from Monteriggioni to Badia a Isola well worth doing.

Tuscan Monasteries, Monasteri

• Hermitage and Monastery of the Holy Saviour at Lecceto - Augustinian, near Sovicille south of Sienna.
• Il Certosa del Galluzzo is a majestic Carthusian (now Cistercian) monastery located a short distance south of Florence. Although subject to extensive depredations over the centuries, it still contains many works of art, not least being an atmospheric cycle of frescoes by Pontormo. However, the measured classicism of this Renaissance architectural assemblage plus a number of works by the della Robbia family are the main reasons to visit and make a tour.
• Certosa di Pontignano near Castelnuovo Berardenga and Siena.
• Franciscan Convent of Santa Maria in Prato near Radda in Chianti originated in the Middle Ages, even though the main building and the adjoining convent today appear to be more 18 C. In 1415 the convent was listed among the inhabitants of the Lega del Chianti. The convent existed until 1866 when it was abolished by the government of newly unified Italy. In 1935 the complex was bought from the Province of Tuscany by the Sacre Stimmate dell'Ordine dei Frati Minori, a Franciscan order residing there until 1974.
• Convento dell' Osservanza near Radicondoli in the Province of Siena. The Convent, which has been well restored, goes back to the end of the 15 C. For four centuries, it was the home of a community of Franciscan Minor Friars devoted to strict Observance. Today it  provides houses the Centro Studi Etologici and the Ethoikos Society which are engaged in ethological studies and teaching, while musical activities, including a music school, are provided by the Dulcimer Fondation pour la Musique.

Tuscan Hermitages, Eremi

• Eremo di Santa Lucia - the ruined Hermitage of Rosia located near Sovicille, south of Siena.
• Hermitage of Montesiepi and the sword Saint Galgano embedded in a stone. A great many tourists visit the evocative ruined Cistercian abbey of Galgano (above) but for those interested in truly unusual and ancient church architecture, this nearby circular church is of equal or greater interest. Highly recommended!
• Gli eremi Agostiniani nei dintoni di Siena

Italy during the Dark Age

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