Abbadia San Salvatore is a characteristic village of Mount Amiata, the closest to the summit, at 800 meters altitude on the eastern side of the mountain. It is thus a destination appreciated in the summer for its freshness and access to nature.
Its heritage is interesting with first of all the abbey San Salvatore, its old historical center well maintained, and the Museum of the mine.
The village has long lived from the presence of the abbey, before declining and finding a flourishing activity in the twentieth with its mines, before declining after its closure around 1970.
The village
You reach the charming old centre, well rehabilitated of medieval origin, crossing the modern districts of Abbadia.
In the village you can discover the charming streets with medieval houses, the Santa Croce Church from the thirteenth century, that of Sant’Angelo from the fourteenth century (now a private residence), the Palazzo del Podestà or the Palazzo del Popolo.
Abbey of San Salvatore
North of the historic centre is the San Salvatore Abbey, founded in tradition in 762 AD by the Lombard duke Ratchis.
From this Benedictine abbey, the church of 1035 was restructured in the 17th century. Behind its imposing façade flanked by two towers (one of which is unfinished), the interior is Romanesque and simple. The splendid crypt was rediscovered in 1925, with 35 columns and as many separate capitals.
Another important document was the Postilla Amiatina dated 1087, a remarkable and rare testimony to the passage from Latin to vernacular language in Italy at that time. It consists of a few lines from an apostille to a notarial deed, reporting the gift of spouse to the «monastery of Abbadia San Salvatore on Mount Amiata».
Outside San Salvatore Abbey (Source: commons.wikimedia.org)
Passing through the cloister, you enter the Abbey’s Museum of Sacred Art, with precious objects, including the 7th century Irish reliquary.
Mine Museum and Park
At the edge of the village is the mining complex operated from 1897 to 1970, to extract cinnabar, source of mercury.
It was converted into a museum of the mine. It documents regional geology, mining history, mercury production, galleries, metallurgical plant and the lives of miners including living places.
Surroundings
Outside the walls of Abbadia are the 13th century Church of San Leonardo, the 17th century Church of Madonna dei Remedi with frescoes by Nasini, and the 16th century Church of Madonna del Castagno.
The path up to the top crosses the woods and passes through the small church of Ermeta.
immersed in the green of the wood.
Where is Abbadia San Salvatore, map
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Links and sources
- General informations: en.wikipedia.org
- Tourist portal: www.visittuscany.com
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