• Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey

Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore is a 14th century abbey founded by Saint Bernardo Tolomei and still serves as a retreat for Benedictine monks. The Abbey is located within a dense forest of cypresses and oaks, 40 km southeast of Siena and 20 km north of Montalcino. Enter the Abbey through a massive fortified Medieval building with a square tower and a drawbridge. In the large cloister enjoy a series of 15th century frescoes by Luca Signorelli and 16th century frescoes by Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, describing the life and landscapes of that era. In the 18th century Baroque church interior enjoy the magnificent choir stalls of inlaid wood made by Fra Giovanni da Verona and a refectory frescoed by Fra’ Paolo Novelli. Visit the abbey’s library, museum and pharmacy and the wine cellar below the cloister where you can enjoy wine tasting.

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Interior view of the halls at the Benedictine Monte Oliveto Abbey in Montalcino, Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy

Interior view of the Wine cellar in the Benedictine Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, large monastery in Val d'Orcia, Tuscany, Italy