"Wonderful Abbey Nearby." Pienza Off The Beaten Path Tip by knips

About 20 km northwest from Pienza you may have a rest in Abbazia d. Monte Oliveto Maggiore. It is an very old (beginning 1319) abbey accepting the rules of St. Benedict. Its incredibly located on a long ridge high above a valley of the "crete senesi" mountains. You can see the complete location from some spots of the street. Driving towards it, you first arrive at a tower with a drawbridge. Its the abbey entrance. There is a good, payable restaurant with tuscan food. Walking through a cypress alley, you reach the abbey itself. It has an impressing cloister with 36 frescoes (about 1500) and a very nice church. An impressing, quiet place, which also offers a guest house for a ruminant stay. Phonenumber on the website.

Website: http://www.monteolivetomaggiore.it/