Territorial Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, Benedictine monastery in Asciano, Italy
The Territorial Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore is a Benedictine monastery built in red brick on a hill in Asciano, featuring three cloisters connected by a square entrance tower via a medieval drawbridge. The compound houses a library containing about 40,000 volumes and maintains an ancient collection of medicinal herbs gathered since the 17th century.
Bernardo Tolomei founded this monastery in 1313, and Pope Clement VI granted papal approval in 1344 for it to become a new monastic congregation. Over the following centuries it grew into a significant religious center in Tuscany.
The walls of the Great Cloister display thirty-five Renaissance frescoes by Luca Signorelli and Il Sodoma depicting scenes from the life of Saint Benedict. These artworks served as a visual way to teach religious lessons to the community living within the monastery.
The monastery sits on a hill accessible by foot from Asciano; the path is clearly marked with trails and roads. Visiting in the early morning or late afternoon helps visitors explore the cloisters and main buildings in a quieter setting.
A 16th-century fish pond designed by Pelori supplied the monastery with food during periods when Benedictine rules prohibited meat consumption. This ingenious system met the dietary needs of the monks while adhering to their strict religious requirements.
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