Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Benedictine monastery in Asciano and Chiusure, Italy
Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is a Benedictine monastery in the hills of Crete Senesi south of Siena, surrounded by an entrance tower and walls. The large cloister extends over several levels with arcades and connects the library, the 15th-century church, and the rooms of the monastic community.
Bernardo Tolomei founded the monastery in 1313 with two companions in the woods near Asciano and chose the name Monte Oliveto after the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem. The Olivetan Congregation received papal recognition in 1344 and the complex was furnished with frescoes and artworks in the following centuries.
The monastic choir displays carved wooden stalls with inlays of different woods representing city views and instruments. Monks live here following the Rule of Saint Benedict and maintain the herb garden with medicinal plants used for centuries.
The monastery opens daily for visitors who can explore the cloister, church, and parts of the complex. Guided tours take place at certain times and respect the monks' prayer schedule, so access to some areas may be limited.
The monastery's pharmacy preserved recipes and tinctures for centuries and remains visible today as a historical room with old vessels and tools. Luca Signorelli painted himself into one of the cloister frescoes, creating a rare Renaissance self-portrait.
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