Just outside a massive square tower with a drawbridge that was originally part of Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore’s defense, our tour driver from Adler Thermae Spa & Resort parks the bus. I walk with my tour group along a wide road lined with cypress trees until we reach a large courtyard where a late-gothic church of the abbey built between 1399 and 1417 is located.
We follow our guide into one of the main attractions of the abbey. The portico is decorated with a fresco cycle by Luca Signorelli depicting the life of St Benedict. Signorelli began work on the 36 large scenes in 1497. The colors and details are breathtakingly beautiful.
Our tour continues into the refectory, decorated with frescoes by Fra’ Paolo Novelli, and the abbey’s large library comprised of more than 40,000 volumes, pamphlets and parchments that have been carefully restored by the monks.
The last places we visit are the winery and the gift shop where religious items as well as products produced on the abbey farm are for sale.
The abbey is not a destination I would have even known of except for the resort excursion. It is located near Chiusure in rural Tuscany and well worth a visit.
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