Abbazia di San Galgano
Abbazia di San Galgano
4.5
Tours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
Full view
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Plan your visit
The area
Address
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
13 within 5 kms
Attractions
13 within 10 kms
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
3,017 reviews
Excellent
2,207
Very good
636
Average
139
Poor
20
Terrible
15
JMEdQ
Edinburgh, UK333 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Now in ruins, but the ruins are spectacular. Once upon a time this was a great abbey, built to support the community that developed around the story of San Galgano who - as the story goes - plunged his sword into the rock, where it remains to this day. The sanctuary of San Galgano is at the top of the hill nearby and is beautifully calm and peaceful. There is an excellent little shop attached to it, selling all kinds of local products such as soap, honey, liqueurs, cheeses, fabrics and cards. Well worth stopping here if you are passing or are in the area. The views from various points along the road are stunning. This is real Tuscany!
Written June 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gabby L
30 contributions
Sept 2022
There's really nothing to see here. It's a waste of time and money to tour this place unless you ABSOLUTELY just have to see it. The abbey is empty and roofless. Nothing really interesting about it.
Written September 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Erica 🌷
Civitanova Marche, Italy3,403 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
The abbey is simply fantastic!
It has got a blue sky as ceiling and green grass as floor!
It dates back to the 13th century and once in, the atmosphere is amazing!
The building is huge, and the visit is quite quick! The entrance ticket costs 3 euros (there are also family tickets at 10€ for two adults and two children or 8,5€ for two adults and a child)! Also reduced price tickets for over-65-people and students are avalaible! It seems to me it costs 2,5€.
The ticket allows you to visit also the "Eremo of Montesiepi" that can be reached by walking! It is amazing too because in it, there is the famous and fascinating sword in the rock!
They are unique in the world!
This place is not far from Siena but you may need a car to get there or maybe, join a guided tour! Anyway, if you're visiting the area, can't miss it! Highly recommended!
It has got a blue sky as ceiling and green grass as floor!
It dates back to the 13th century and once in, the atmosphere is amazing!
The building is huge, and the visit is quite quick! The entrance ticket costs 3 euros (there are also family tickets at 10€ for two adults and two children or 8,5€ for two adults and a child)! Also reduced price tickets for over-65-people and students are avalaible! It seems to me it costs 2,5€.
The ticket allows you to visit also the "Eremo of Montesiepi" that can be reached by walking! It is amazing too because in it, there is the famous and fascinating sword in the rock!
They are unique in the world!
This place is not far from Siena but you may need a car to get there or maybe, join a guided tour! Anyway, if you're visiting the area, can't miss it! Highly recommended!
Written January 5, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
malvern09
London,UK500 contributions
Sept 2012 • Couples
Maybe I'm prejudiced by coming from North Yorkshire, where we have several stunning ruined abbeys - Rievaulx, Fountains, Whitby - but San Galgano came as a real disappointment. After all the other amazing sights of Tuscany, it certainly wasn't worth the long drive to see this. It's almost too-well preserved. It just looks like a bog-standard large church which has lost its roof and windows. None of the scale, little of the complex of other buildings that hint at a long-lost community.
If you're in the vicinity, or going to a concert, by all means visit - but otherwise Tuscany has many more wonders - natural and man-made - that are more worthy of your time.
If you're in the vicinity, or going to a concert, by all means visit - but otherwise Tuscany has many more wonders - natural and man-made - that are more worthy of your time.
Written September 21, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BPH
Oakville, Canada55 contributions
Sept 2017 • Couples
As others have said, a wonderful ruin. When we were there, they stopped us from going inside as a wedding was taking place. We were told that if we wanted, we could visit the nearby chapel (Eremo di Montesiepi) that was located on a small hill near the Abbey.
We went up to the chapel which was not only interesting, it also offered a nice view across the valley. Further, here you can also see the sword that was embedded in a rock by the founder of the Abbey's order.
By the time we returned, the bride and groom had emerged from the Abbey so we were allowed in. It is a very large structure that must have been impressive in its day.
After our visit we went across the valley and up the narrow road to Chiusdino. This is a great little town in its own right... and further, your entrance ticket for the Abbey also includes entrance to the Abbey Museum in town! The town is not large. After a short walk around town we found the Museum - which we thought was also worth the effort to visit. Several interesting items etc.
Lastly, if you go to Chiusdino, try to find the San Michele church in the middle of town. Why? Because inside the church is a small side chapel protected by a metal gate. Looking through the gate you will see a very old container... and inside the container is the skull of the founder of the Abbey (the person who embedded their sword in the stone!).
Amazing.
We went up to the chapel which was not only interesting, it also offered a nice view across the valley. Further, here you can also see the sword that was embedded in a rock by the founder of the Abbey's order.
By the time we returned, the bride and groom had emerged from the Abbey so we were allowed in. It is a very large structure that must have been impressive in its day.
After our visit we went across the valley and up the narrow road to Chiusdino. This is a great little town in its own right... and further, your entrance ticket for the Abbey also includes entrance to the Abbey Museum in town! The town is not large. After a short walk around town we found the Museum - which we thought was also worth the effort to visit. Several interesting items etc.
Lastly, if you go to Chiusdino, try to find the San Michele church in the middle of town. Why? Because inside the church is a small side chapel protected by a metal gate. Looking through the gate you will see a very old container... and inside the container is the skull of the founder of the Abbey (the person who embedded their sword in the stone!).
Amazing.
Written October 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LoveUmbria
Oklahoma49 contributions
Jun 2017
This iconic Abby is just as beautiful on the outside as it is from the inside! When went twice while we were visiting the region. The first time at sunset and the time in the morning! I tried to get the famous photo from the inside looking straight up that would show the sky in the shape of the cross, but I guess my camera was not advanced enough! Also, be sure you walk up the hill, and visit the tiny chapel with the actual "sword in the stone!" I always thought that it was a legend that took place in England!! You may want to look up the history before you visit!! Fascinating!!
Written October 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
LadyoftheLake1
Athens, AL235 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
Went to Abbey at San Galgano in Chiusdino Tuscany Region. Ruins are beautifully maintained and worth a stroll. Take the gravel road up to the Hermitage of Monte Siepe to see San Galgano's Sword in the stone. However it is enclosed in a domed plexiglass casing so it is difficult to get the true effect of a sword in a stone. It is a nice visit if you are in the area but if you have to travel far I would probably not make the trip just for this. The trip demands a winding road up and down a mountainside narrow two lane with hairpin turns at every few 100 feet. If you are prone to motion sickness beware!
Written July 9, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DJDxMKD
New Hope, PA111 contributions
Visited San Galgano in 2006. Drove from Siena to San Galgano. Not much hype, but San Galgano is beautiful. It is a ruined abbey. The walls are intact, but there is no roof or windows, yet it is still very impressive. Very peaceful and quiet. So many Italian sites are overun with tourists, they are loud and bothersome. Not San Galgano, it is a great place to just be outside and relax. Especially for us, American tourists, becasue I don't think I saw another group of americans, mostly Italian tourists (and a large Italian motorcyle touring club), I hate going to another country and being overrun by loud, obnoxious american tourists. San Galgano avoids all that. We bought some of the monks grappas and honey. Nothing overly elaborate, but I definately recommend.
Written May 13, 2008
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
DJS
Castelfranco Veneto, Italy227 contributions
Mar 2018 • Family
Well worth the drive out, very well kept abbey (only walls). The entry ticket allows entry to the museum in town, as well as the church on the hill above with the sword in the stone.
Written March 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chambesy
Geneva, Switzerland714 contributions
Aug 2015 • Family
The Abbazia di San Galgano is a former Cistercian monastery of which a beautiful church without roof remains. Standing in the middle of fields and rolling hills it is a beautiful site. Entrance fee is €2,- or €1,50 (for children up to the age of 18). Lovely to walk through the Abbazia and around the grounds. In the Summer there are often concerts in the Abbazia in the evening. Artists sell their art in a shop on the grounds.
Do take the walk to the hermitage of Montesiepi (about 15 min) to see the sword that San Galgano stuck in the rock after the apparition if Saint Michael, similar to the King Arthur legend. A shop at the hermitage sells postcards, books and local products.
Do take the walk to the hermitage of Montesiepi (about 15 min) to see the sword that San Galgano stuck in the rock after the apparition if Saint Michael, similar to the King Arthur legend. A shop at the hermitage sells postcards, books and local products.
Written August 16, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Non occorre prenotare se è in famiglia. Se è un gruppo è meglio prenotare.
Written March 31, 2024
Per visitare L’ abbazia occorre prenotare?
Written June 11, 2020
Ciao, non occorre prenotazione sono aperti tutti i giorni con orari dipendenti dal periodo (in estate ovvio nessun problema). Forse una telefonata per capire cosa sia necessario per accedere causa eventuali decreti regionali per COVID?
Se ritieni utile la risposta dammi il voto.
Written July 19, 2020
Buongiorno..ci sono aree attrezzate per grigliate nei dintorni?
Written April 20, 2019
salve vorrei sapere dove parcheggiare l auto e se c'è area pic nic grazie? ( cosa scrivere sul navigatore) grazie
Written April 15, 2019
Non c'è un' area attrezzata per i picnic. Per i parcheggi, vai tranquillo!!!
Written May 29, 2019
Wie erfahre ich etwas über die Aufführungen und kann man dann online buchen?
Written March 28, 2019
Si,sei in una abbazia priva di tetto con solo le mura perimetrali in aperta campagna
Written March 12, 2019
Où peut on séjourner pas loin de l’abbaye de San Gargano ?merci de vos réponses.
Written January 21, 2019
Bonjour, je ne peux malheureusement pas vous aider, car nous sommes venus de l’étranger et n’avons fait qu’un voyage d’une journée. Mais je suis sûr qu'il y a plusieurs bons hébergements à proximité. Bonne chance!
Written January 25, 2019
Hay forma simple de llegar en transporte público desde Siena? // Is there a simple way to get there in public transportation from Siena?
Written January 10, 2019
Ask in the tourist office in Siena.
Written January 20, 2019
Showing results 1-10 of 30
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing