Where is Abbazia di San Galgano, the Instagram-famous roofless cathedral in Tuscany?
The Abbey of San Galgano created the perfect backdrop to this generations family photoshoot.
Have you seen this gorgeous structure appearing on your Instagram and asked.. where is that, how can I get there and what can I expect? Keep reading because, I’ve got the answers.. kind of!
The Abbey of Saint Galgano (Abbazia di San Galgano) is in Tuscany. It sits at the end of a stunning cypress lined driveway (it wouldn’t be Tuscany otherwise would it?) among farm land and is very popular among locals for a weekend visit. It’s popularity among international tourists has grown considerably since Instagram but don’t let that fool you! There’s still plenty of room for the perfect selfie (or professional series!), but it isn’t easy to reach.
It’ll take you a good hour and a half passed many hair-pin turns to get there by car from Florence. Public transport options don’t really exist so if you’re not confident driving, you’ll need to book a reputable private driver like this Marco Modesti at Tuscany Top Drivers who has a five star Trip Advisor rating.
If you’re heading from Siena to Isola d’Elba or anywhere along the coast really, it’s a much more convenient stop than the trip from Florence, and one I do recommend. If you’re doing that, be sure to stop in Massa Marittima for lunch at Osteria da Tronca (if you’re there on a weekend). They have a fabulous traditional, local menu and a huge wine list. I simply can not fault anything about our experience there.
Back to the Abbey though! It was built in the early 13th century by Cistercian monks. Famine in 1329 and plague in 1348 was the beginning of the end for this sacred place and by the end of the 15th century the monks moved to Siena.
There are multiple versions of what happened next. One suggests that the roof simply deteriorated over time and eventually collapsed. Others suggest that like most cathedrals, the roof was built of wood and was destroyed in a fire which didn’t damage the walls that are made of stone! Legend has it though that the original roof was in fact made of lead which was dismantled and sold in the mid 1500’s.
Whichever story is true, it’s left us with a truly stunning structure, perfect for portraits! It’s one of my favourite locations for photoshoots with tourists and I would love to take you there for your family portraits!
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