SANT’ANTIMO ABBEY – 64,2km/1h21min. driving

After visiting Montalcino, follow the signs for the ‘Sant’Antimo Abbey, beautiful and evocative Romanesque abbey dating from the twelfth century. The path that branches off through the winding country roads and leading to the monastery, it is a real treat for the eyes: vineyards, olive groves, green hills, and isolated farmhouses here and there.
The Abbey of Sant’Antimo is one of the most significant architectural monuments of Romanesque and a significant example of monastic building of the early twelfth century. The magnificence of the church is enhanced by the surrounding landscape where the olive gathering is the key element.

According to tradition it was founded by Charlemagne, but the first certain document dates back to 814, at the time of his son Louis the Pious. It was originally a powerful Benedictine abbey, so much so that in medieval times the abbot was one of the largest landowners in the area. In 1291 he passed to Guglielmites and, in 1462, was suppressed by Pope Pius II and annexed it in Montalcino, which was elevated to a diocese with the introduction of the Abbey itself.
In the Abbey it lies today a group of Benedictine monastic community of Santa Maria di Monte Oliveto Maggiore (Asciano, Siena).