The imposing Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore in Asciano is an oasis of spirituality located in the pleasant setting of the Crete Senesi.
Legend has it that the Abbey's founding stemmed from a dream experienced by the wealthy landowner Giovanni Tolomei. In a dream, the Sienese nobleman had a vision of a silver staircase rising to the sky. Once the complex was built, Tolomei changed his name to Bernardo and retired to the abbey to lead a more spiritual life with the other nobles Ambrogio Piccolomini and Patrizio Patrizi. In particular, the three decided to join the Benedictine Order, following the famous rule “Ora et Labora” (Pray and Work).
To this day, the architecture of the Abbey reflects the traditional layout of Benedictine monastic complexes, which usually consist of the following spaces:
Church; Great Cloister; One or more small cloisters; Chapter House; Library; Room used as a refectory.
The tour of Monte Oliveto Maggiore Abbey begins at the entrance, where you will be given an audio guide that will take you on a journey to discover the secret places of the monastery, starting with the beautiful church, built in the 15th century but later transformed in the 18th century in the Baroque and Rococo styles. Dedicated to the sacred figure of Our Lady, the church contains great artistic masterpieces, including a wooden choir inlaid by Fra Giovanni da Verona with 125 stalls and a lectern finely inlaid by Fra Raffaele da Brescia.
From the church, the tour continues to the Great Cloister with the beautiful frescoes by Luca Signorelli and Antonio Bazzi, known as Sodoma. The vibrant colors and highly detailed images of these masterpieces vividly depict the life, characters, and landscapes of the 15th century.
From the Cloister, the tour continues to the refectory, the chapter house and then to the large library, which houses books, manuscripts and volumes of great value.
We conclude in the spectacular underground cellar, where the precious aged barrels and wines produced by the monks are kept, as well as the award-winning best extra virgin olive oil in the Tuscany Region.
Within the monastic area, there is a wonderful garden where you can enjoy contact with nature by strolling, meditating or reading, as it is a place that rejuvenates the soul, so a visit is highly recommended. There are also small, charming chapels steeped in mysticism.
The visit to the Abbey concludes with the exquisite “Mystic Abbey” food tasting, which includes:
- 3 wines from the monastic tradition
- 1 extra virgin olive oil produced by the monks, served in special glasses
- Platter of Tuscan cold cuts and cheeses accompanied by bread and breadsticks
Hotel pick-up and drop-off available on request (extra charge)
