Abbadia San Salvatore @ Medieval Town on the Monte Amiata
Abbadia San Salvatore
is situated on the eastern slope of the Monte Amiata and owes its name to the Abbey dedicated to San Salvatore, which was founded in 743 by the Longobard Elfo. In a few years, the abbey became a powerful and important political subject, which around the year 1000 wielded its ecclesial and temporal power over southern Tuscany and upper Lazio.
After a long struggle with Orvieto, Siena conquered the abbey in 1347. In 1557 it passed in the hands of the Medici family. The suppression of the abbey in 1782 by Grand Duke Pietro Leopoldo caused the dispersal of its canonicals and of the archives. Local noble families occupied the building. Only in 1939 was the abbey given back to the monks.
