05Apr 0 Badia a Passignano Posted By: Anna Maria Baldini Chianti, Italy, History and Culture of Tuscany, Sights of Chianti, Sights of Tuscany, • • • VIEW ALL POSTS • • • Badia a PassignanoA visit to the Abbey of Passignano Badia a Passignano. According to tradition, a monastery was founded at Passignano by Sichelmo in 890. An Abbey (Badia) was established 1049 as a consequence of the Vallombrosan monastic reforms, and took the form of a quadrangular fortified structure with corner towers. The original buildings have been greatly modified and much of the present appearance of the monastery results from a 19 C reconstruction as a “castle”. After a period of secular occupation, the monastery is once more occupied by a tiny community of vallumbrosan monks and may be visited on some Sunday afternoons when a guide is available. Worth a visit. More about Badia a Passignano. About Anna Maria BaldiniAnna Maria is a frequent contributor to web content on life in Tuscany. She researches all aspects of Tuscan life, with emphasis on history, art, architecture and the culture of the people of this beautiful region of Italy. Here are some similar topics: Badia a Coltibuono Badia a Coltibuono was founded in 1051 by monks of the Benedictine Vallombrosan Order who also began planting the first vineyards in the Upper Chianti area. In 1810, when Tuscany was under Napoleonic rule, the monks were forced to leave… Read More » Greve in Chianti Greve in Chianti is a small town situated in the valley of the Greve stream, half-way along the scenic Chiantigiana highway (SS 222) that runs from Florence to Sienna. Greve has an attractive, arcaded, triangular piazza with several ceramics and… Read More » Tuscany Italy This is the site map for our Tuscany, Italy, website. To make the best use of our web site we advise returning to the home page or utilising the navigation menu to the left.… Read More » Volpaia Volpaia is a well-restored mediaeval village located in central Chianti. Part of the walls and two of the original six towers of Volpaia are preserved, the largest of the two housing the Castello di Volpaia wine shop and osteria. Volpaia… Read More » Populonia Populonia is the location of some of the best-preserved Etruscan tomb structures and other remains in Tuscany, plus a small Etruscan museum. It was an important metalworking city for the Etruscans and one of the few of their cities built… Read More »