San Galgano Abbey

The ruined Cistercian abbey is in dense woodland in a superb setting. It is very remote but well worth the effort of getting there for the beauty of the surroundings and the majesty of the ruined, roofless building. Begun in 1218, the abbey is Gothic in style; unusual in Tuscany, this reflects the French origins of the Cistercian monks who designed and built it.
The monks avoided contact with civilization and divided their lives between prayer and labour, clearing the hills of vegetation to graze their sheep. Despite the Cistercian emphasis on poverty, the monks became wealthy from the sale of wool; by the middle of the 14th century, the abbey was corruptly administered and gradually fell into decline.
In the late 14th century, the English mercenary Sir John Hawkwood sacked the abbey and by 1397 the abbot was the sole occupant. Numbers recovered for a time but the abbey was eventually dissolved in 1552. Empty for many years, the cloister and other monastic buildings alongside the church are now being restored for the Olivetan order of nuns.

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Hotel Relais Santa Chiara
Via Matteotti, 15 - 53037 San Gimignano (Siena)
Tuscany Italy
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