The Abbey of Sant’Antimo is an ancient monastery located in Castelnuovo dell’Abate, part of the municipality of Montalcino in Tuscany.
Immersed in the lands of good wine there is a place of worship full of mysticism and history, it is the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. Let’s start immediately with a peculiar aspect as there is a legend surrounding the walls. It is said that in 781 A.D. an angel appeared to Carlo Magno who suggested to the soldiers to drink an infusion with local herbs. Carlo Magno was withdrawing from Rome due to a plague and thanks to this advice he was able to save all the troops. They were located right in the Sant’Antimo area and from there the first foundations, which have now become the sacristy, were born.
The abbey as we know it today developed in the 12th century and has a very suggestive Romanesque structure. It is immersed in a natural basin and next to it there are centuries-old olive trees. During the Middle Ages it was abandoned and only thanks to the various restorations, which took place between the 19th and 20th centuries, the church has regained its ancient splendour which we can admire even in the 21st century.
The structure of the Abbey
The Abbey was built with travertine rock. Some of the rocks that are part of the colonnade, which surrounds the altar, are slightly transparent. Thanks to the illumination of artificial light, they can shine. This is the uniqueness of what is called alabaster. Inside the church there is a splendid 12th-century polychrome wooden crucifix and a very characteristic wooden statue depicting the Madonna di Sant’Antimo.
Under the altar, you can also see an ancient crypt. You can also visit the Garden of Santa Ildegarda, a green area built according to the indications of the Benedictine saint. In addition, in the Monaci pharmacy you can buy products made with traditional recipes and, for those who want to be more contemptuous, even the tonic/bitter that saved the life of Charlemagne’s army. Outside the structure you can admire all its beauty and uniqueness. In fact many tourists decide to go to this church where art combines with nature to take at least one photo.
Interesting facts: concerts, workshops and seminars are organized at the Abbey of Sant’Antimo. Inside the complex there is the monastic pharmacy where you can buy natural products made with medicinal herbs, olive oil, red grapes, lavender.
Opening time: November – March every day from 10.30 am to 5.00 pm April – October every day from 10 am to 7pm
Mass: November – March from Monday to Friday 4.30pm; Sunday 11.00 am. April – October from Monday to Friday 6.30 pm; Sunday 11.00 am.
Where: Località S. Antimo, 222, 53024 Castelnuovo dell’Abate.
Contacts: +39.075 678 9754.
The Abbey of Sant’Antimo has a own website which we invite you to consult.
You can find more historical information on the Wikipedia site.
