Abbey of Sant'Antimo, Benedictine abbey in Castelnuovo dell'Abate, Italy
Description
The Abbey of Sant'Antimo is a Benedictine monastery in Castelnuovo dell'Abate near Montalcino, built from pale travertine and translucent alabaster quarried from local mines. The church interior divides into three naves separated by tall columns and cruciform pillars bearing capitals carved with geometric designs.
History
Charlemagne is said to have founded an early chapel here in the eighth century when his army rested on the return from Rome. Louis the Pious granted lands to the monastery through a written charter in 813, marking the beginning of its documented record.
Culture
The name honors Anthony the Great, the Egyptian hermit whose devotion spread across medieval Europe. Visitors today still see Benedictine monks attending liturgical hours in the church, where Gregorian chants echo through the vaulted spaces.
Practical
The site lies roughly 9 kilometers (5.6 miles) south of Montalcino among vineyards and olive groves at the end of a narrow country road. Wooden tables and benches stand in the front garden for visitors who wish to pause or eat food they bring with them.
Did you know?
Daylight passes through the alabaster walls into the interior, creating a soft amber glow that shifts throughout the day. A polychromatic wooden crucifix from the thirteenth century hangs above the main altar, showing Christ with golden details against a deep red background.
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