Badia a Coltibuono, Romanesque monastery in Gaiole in Chianti, Italy.
Badia a Coltibuono is an abbey in Tuscany with a Latin cross church layout and a semicircular apse crowned by a stone bell tower built in the 12th century. The interior displays late Baroque decorations with frescoes, paintings, and stucco details adorning the architectural elements.
The Firidolfi family founded the monastery in 1049 and transferred it to Vallombrosian monks under Saint Giovanni Gualberto in 1051. This monastic community shaped the region through agricultural work and spiritual practices for centuries.
The monastery's interior displays late Baroque decorations with frescoes, canvases, and stucco work throughout its architectural elements.
This abbey is located in the Chianti hills and is best reached by car since the access roads are narrow and winding. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes as the grounds are uneven and some interior rooms can be dimly lit.
A Cedar of Lebanon tree stands in the Italian garden, a massive and ancient specimen with broad spreading branches. This tree has been part of the monastery grounds for generations and gives the garden an unusual botanical character.
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