Abbey of Sant’Antimo

Sant’Antimo Abbey lies in the valley of the Starcia stream near Castelnuovo dell’Abate, about 9 km from Montalcino. According to tradition, Charlemagne founded it after escaping a plague on his way back from Rome. An inscription above the high altar gives the year 1118. The church is built of travertine and alabaster from a quarry in nearby Castelnuovo dell’Abate; the bell tower follows the Romanesque-Lombard style.

Beneath the altar is a small crypt with three aisles. Above the high altar hangs a painted wooden crucifix from the 13th century. In 1462 Pope Pius II suppressed the abbey and placed it under the Diocese of Montalcino. A visit usually takes about an hour and combines well with a stop in Montalcino.

According to Lonely Planet, the exterior carries stone carvings of fantastical animals, and inside stands a polychrome Madonna and Child from the 13th century. With a video guide you can see not only the church but also the crypt, upper loggia, chapel, old pharmacy and garden. The walk from Montalcino takes two to three hours; buses from Montalcino run only a few times a day, and the tourist office can give you the current timetable (as of October 2026).