Official Information
Official website: https://www.antimo.it/
Online tickets: On site only; entry to the church is generally free. Paid audioguides and special routes such as “La Via della Luce” are purchased on site or via official partners, not through a dedicated abbey ticketing portal.
Address: Abbazia di Sant’Antimo, Località Sant’Antimo 222, 53024 Castelnuovo dell’Abate (SI), Italy
Map: View on Google Maps
Opening Hours
The abbey is usually open to visitors every day, with public access to the church across the year and seasonal variations in opening times. Typical schedules run roughly from late morning to late afternoon, sometimes with a midday break; liturgical celebrations such as Sunday Mass at 10:00 may restrict visiting during services. Because hours can change with the religious calendar and events, always check the abbey’s own website or posted notices before your visit.
The Abbey of Sant’Antimo stands in a quiet valley south of Montalcino, surrounded by olive groves and cypress trees, and is one of Tuscany’s most atmospheric Romanesque churches. According to tradition, it was founded by Charlemagne, while documents confirm its existence at least by the early 9th century. The present abbey church largely dates from the 12th century and is built from warm honey-coloured stone, with a tall campanile and a simple but powerful façade. Inside, a three-aisled basilica plan leads the eye toward the elevated presbytery and semicircular apse, with a deambulatory (walk-around passage) and radiating chapels behind the main altar, architectural elements that recall major monastic churches in France and underline the abbey’s historical connections with the Benedictine world. Slender columns with carved capitals, including the famous “Daniel in the lion’s den” attributed to the Master of Cabestany, punctuate the nave. Light filters from high windows, creating a shifting play of illumination that is particularly striking in the early morning or late afternoon. For centuries, Sant’Antimo served both as a spiritual centre and as a stop for pilgrims and travellers crossing this part of Tuscany. Today, the resident religious community continues liturgical life, while also welcoming visitors who come for silence, architecture and landscape. Access to the main church is generally free, with invitations to make a voluntary offering. To deepen the visit, the abbey and its partners offer audioguides and special itineraries, such as the “Via della Luce” route that includes the Carolingian chapel, the crypt, upper galleries with viewpoints over the nave, and monastic spaces like the pharmacy and cloister. These enhanced routes require a paid ticket, usually arranged on site or through authorized partners, and combine historical information with spiritual reflections. Facilities around the abbey include a small shop selling monastic products and books, basic services and a car park slightly uphill from the complex. For travellers exploring the Val d’Orcia by car, Sant’Antimo is an easy detour that works well paired with Montalcino or nearby wineries, offering a strong sense of medieval spirituality embedded in the Tuscan landscape.