Santa Mustiola

Santa Mustiola is a Romanesque monastery featuring a three-tiered cloister with eleven arches on each side, supported by slender columns adorned with carved plant designs. Inside, visitors find a stone altar in Romanesque style and a painting by Luca di Tommè showing the Madonna with Child.

The monastery was founded in the mid-11th century and received papal protection from Alexander II in 1071. It later joined the Vallombrosan Congregation, becoming part of an important monastic movement.

The church contains a stone altar in Romanesque style and a painting by Luca di Tommè depicting the Madonna with Child.

The monastery is located in the Siena region and is reachable via local transportation, with enough time needed to explore the cloister and church at a comfortable pace. Visiting in early morning or late afternoon allows better light to appreciate the architectural details.

The cloister holds the only fully intact Romanesque characteristics of all cloisters in Tuscany and displays a rare combination of white, pink, and black stone. This colored stone combination stands apart from other monastic buildings found throughout the region.

Location: Sovicille

Architectural style: Romanesque architecture

GPS coordinates: 43.23306,11.22030

Latest update: December 14, 2025 15:00