A roofless abbey standing the test of time.
The sword of San Galgano embedded in stone on a Tuscan hill.
Looking for adventure?
You've come to the right place…
The Abbey of San Galgano is a mystical Gothic building that lost its roof centuries ago. And yet, against all odds, it still stands, braving the elements to transport us to another era with its sheer presence.
A spectacular place that could easily pass for one of the settings in Game of Thrones.
Want to immerse yourself in medieval legends about Cistercian monks and a knight who left his sword literally stuck in a rock?
Come to Tuscany…
History of San Galgano
Legend has it…
The Hermitage of Monte Siepi and Knight Galgano
Once upon a time, there was a medieval knight who fought in battles and fought in duels…
He hailed from a small Tuscan village in the heart of Italy called Chiusdino.
One day, for reasons still unknown, he discovered his true religious calling on a nearby hill: Monte Siepi.
It was there that he decided to retire as a hermit for the rest of his life.
As a symbol of peace, he thrust his sword into a stone, turning it into a cross.
After his death, they built a temple in his honor on that very hill: the Hermitage of Monte Siepi.
Even today, you can still see the sword that San Galgano drove into the rock. It is protected under glass right in the center of the hermitage's central chapel.
And that is how Tuscany got its very own personalized version of the Excalibur legend.
The mysterious roofless Abbey of San Galgano
Shortly after the death of San Galgano, in the 13th century, a community of Cistercian monks chose the slopes of Monte Siepi to build the first Gothic-style religious building in Tuscany.
They called it: Abbey of San Galgano.
Despite having a privileged location, surrounded by farmland, major transport routes, and the proximity of the Merse River; in less than 100 years it was brutally struck by famine, the plague, and relentless raids.
It wasn't long before the monks abandoned it, moving to Siena.
In 1786, lightning struck the bell tower, which collapsed onto the building's roof, destroying it in its path.
Today, the absence of a roof is what makes the Abbey of San Galgano so unique.
A temple frozen in time, that will transport you to a distant era full of magic, myths, and legends.
How to visit San Galgano
The Abbey of San Galgano
From the parking area (marked on the map at the bottom of this page), a path lined with cypress trees will guide you through farmlands to the abbey's main entrance.
The ticket office is on the left as you approach the temple. However, you'll also want to walk around its right side to see the facade and the outline of the largest rose window from the outside.
Surrounded by wheat fields and vineyards, this structure stands out with its own unique personality against a typical Tuscan landscape.
Trust me, it will delight any photographer, whether amateur or pro.
Admission costs 3€ and also includes a visit to the San Galgano Museum, located in Chiusdino.
Open every day from 9.00 am to 17.30-20.00 pm, depending on the time of year. This makes nighttime photos inside impossible, which is a real shame. Still, the shots you can get of the abbey's exterior at any time of day are well worth it.
You should also keep in mind that, from time to time, it is rented out for weddings, so it may be closed at certain times without prior notice.
Hermitage of Monte Siepi
Admission to the Hermitage of Monte Siepi is free.
You can walk up to it from the parking lot along a paved road, or via a dirt path that starts on the left side of the Abbey of San Galgano itself.
When to go
If you go by the weather, I'm convinced that spring is the perfect time to visit the Abbey of San Galgano.
Mild temperatures and low rainfall will make the experience much more enjoyable. However, whenever you go, if you visit Tuscany, don't leave without seeing this magical place.
With every shift in light, you'll discover new details, a thousand shadows, and different perspectives. At sunset, at dawn, in the middle of the day… to each their own. Could you choose just one of these moments? I can tell you right now my photographer couldn't pick just one… we saw them all!
Remember, the Abbey of San Galgano is rented out by the hour for weddings. So, if you're visiting on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, stop by in the morning and ask about the ceremony schedules for the entire day.
My recommendation: avoid Saturdays.
And, if you can, Fridays and Sundays too.
We went on a Saturday in early June 2017. That day, they closed the abbey for weddings 3 times. The worst part was that they didn't post the next wedding on the board until the previous one had ended, so it wasn't easy to fit our visit into the available time slots… Although, in the end, we did it!
In total, we visited the Abbey of San Galgano three times:
- During Saturday morning, but a ceremony was taking place and we couldn't go inside. We photographed it from the outside and visited the Montesiepi Hermitage.
- Late in the afternoon, to take photos of the sunset over the temple. We barely managed to see inside, because one wedding finished earlier than expected.
- At dawn the next day. We got up at 4 in the morning to capture the abbey during nautical twilight, the blue hour, and then the golden hour… photographers will understand what I mean even better than I do.
Where to sleep
In June it's already quite hot in Tuscany, so we looked for a hotel with a pool to cool off during the hottest hours of the day. And of course, as close as possible to the Abbey of San Galgano.
In the end, we chose the agriturismo Il Mulino delle Pile, a gorgeous stone mill converted into a hotel and restaurant. Before that, it was actually the filming studio for the commercials of Barilla-Mulino Bianco, one of the biggest Italian food companies.
It's located just a 10-minute drive from the abbey, so its location was ideal for our plans.
The rooms were very comfortable. They even offered a small communal kitchen for guests to use.
Breakfast was delicious, with freshly baked croissants, although there were no savory options. Everything was sweet.
Dinner was what convinced us the least about the place. While it was decent, we've had much better Tuscan dishes. At lunchtime they only serve cold dishes in the restaurant, though at a good price (€7-8).
It's surrounded by green areas belonging to the property, where uniquely feathered chickens, ducks, and other birds roam around. All of this makes the stay truly charming.
The pool is pretty good, with loungers and umbrellas to relax next to it. But don't expect total peace and quiet, as it's the favorite play area of the owners' kids. And you can't blame them! I would have spent all day there if it hadn't been for our 3 visits to the Abbey of San Galgano.
In my opinion, Il Mulino delle Pile is a perfect venue for hosting events, whether weddings, anniversaries, family gatherings, or trips with friends… It's no surprise that many of the photos on Booking were taken during wedding celebrations. It's ideal for that.
Conclusion
If you're traveling through Italy, doing a road trip through Tuscany, or exploring a route through Umbria, its lesser-known twin, don't miss out on this opportunity:
Discover the Abbey of San Galgano and let yourself be transported back in time.
You won't regret it. It'll become one of those images etched into your memory for a long time.
And if you need more info, leave me a comment below. I'll be happy to answer all your questions.
Useful links
- Opening hours of the Abbey of San Galgano.
- Agriturismo Il Mulino delle Pile.
- Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount on your IATI travel insurance.
And if you're on a road trip through Tuscany, you might also be interested in these posts:
- Strolling through Florence.
- Road trip through Siena and Val d'Orcia.
- The Maremma Nature Park and its untouched beaches.
- 1-week road trip through Umbria.
An adventure through those places would really bring the legends of those times to life firsthand. It would be exciting.
That's right! The place is magical. 🙂