San Galgano

The mystical and enigmatic abbey of San Galgano, full of history, is located approximately 30 km from the city of Siena, in the village of Chiusdino. It was built between 1220 and 1268 by the Cistercian order. After a hundred years of great glory, it was followed by its slow decline and subsequent desecration. The missing roof makes the great abbey of San Galgano a unique gem. The interior of the church has no floor, it is made of rammed earth, which turns into a lawn in the spring, which makes it even more mystical. The most famous reason to explain the missing roof is that in 1500 the lead of the abbey was sold to pay the debts of the monks. Recently, the Academy of San Galgano denied this version of the facts by publishing the text of a historical document: "The roof of the convent church, which was made of wooden hammers and bricks, actually collapsed due to the gradual involvement of structures - repeatedly criticized during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries - that could not withstand their rolling from the bell tower". The Abbey of San Galgano is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to sunset. The ticket price is €3.50. Another enigmatic experience awaits you near the abbey. Past the Abbey of San Galgano, an ascending path will take you to the Eremo di Montesiepi in less than 5 minutes. Here you will find a stone with a sword inside, just like the legendary Excalibur. Eremo di Montesiepi preserves this relic and its secret. In the chapel, which is also called "Rotunda" precisely because of its circular shape, protected by a glass showcase, there is exactly the legendary sword in the stone! Eremo di Montesiepi is open every day from 9:00 a.m. to sunset and admission is free. Holy Mass is held every Sunday morning at 11:30.