ABBAZIA MONTE OLIVETO MAGGIORE
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One of the most beautiful abbeys in Italy, founded around 1313 by St. Bernardo Tolomei, located in the middle of a cypress forest
Mother House of the Olivetans founded around 1313 by Saint Bernardo Tolomei, it is one of the most beautiful abbeys in Italy. Located in the middle of a cypress forest, overlooking the Ombrone valley, the Santa Maria de Monte Oliveto Maggiore territorial abbey dominates the Sienese peaks, where peace, silence and tranquility prevail today, as in the past. Composed of churches, chapels, cloisters, towers and lodges, the monastery appears almost like a 14th century city.
The visit of the abbey is an essential stopover, if only to admire in the large cloister the fascinating frescos (sometimes tasty!) of the life of Saint Benedict, founder of the Benedictine Order, begun by Luca Signorelli and completed by Sodoma. This work forms one of the largest fresco painting complexes in Tuscany. The abbey church with its baroque decoration houses superb inlaid stalls by the painter Fra Giovanni da Verona (1505).
On the practical side, this magnificent abbey is located about ten kilometres south of Asciano, by the SP-451. The place is still inhabited by Olivetan monks, but it is possible to visit the church, the famous large cloister with the cycle of frescoes of Saint Benedict, the pharmacy, the library, the refectory and a small museum where some works of art and watercolours are displayed. During some liturgies, it is possible to hear the Gregorian chants of the monks that resonate, impressive!
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