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Abbazia di San Galgano

Siena, Italy
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Ranked #5 of 52 attractions in Siena
Type: Religious Sites, Historic Sites
242 visitor photos
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331 reviews from our community

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Richmond, Virginia
Top Contributor
405 reviews 405 reviews
160 attraction reviews
Reviews in 154 cities Reviews in 154 cities
350 helpful votes 350 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 June 2013

There is something about a ruined Abbey that is touching. Perhaps it is the emptiness. When I saw San Galgano, I remembered how I felt when I first encountered Tintern Abbey. Although they differ substantially, each overwhelms you. There is also an exhibition of art works of the chapter house worth seeing. The circular chapel was also beautiful with its... More

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See 6 more reviews by DonPaulo for Siena
Ljubljana, Slovenia
Contributor
18 reviews 18 reviews
12 attraction reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 May 2013

After a crowded sightseeing in Siena this is a perceft hideaway. Impressive old convent is situated in Tuscan countryside. See also the sword in the rock on a chuch up on the hill.

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See 3 more reviews by UrskaG for Siena
Nashville, TN
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
7 helpful votes 7 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 April 2013

Nice drive outside Siena to see very pictureque ruins of this old church. Definitely fun to pack a lunch and eat out in the countryside. I understand tour buses can sometimes invade the place but on our trip we were lucky to see only a few other folks so it made a nice morning excursion

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See 2 more reviews by PiperNash for Siena
Vancouver, Canada
Senior Contributor
41 reviews 41 reviews
23 attraction reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
61 helpful votes 61 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 27 January 2013

I love ruins, and cathedral ruins are even better! Beautiful structure and set in a wonderful landscape. Highly recommended of you can find your way out there.

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New Jersey
Senior Contributor
42 reviews 42 reviews
12 attraction reviews
Reviews in 22 cities Reviews in 22 cities
24 helpful votes 24 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 January 2013

I took my girlfriend to Italy so that I can propose to her. Through the Tripadvisor forums, this abbey was suggested as a romantic place. After reading it's history, I was convinced that this would be The Spot on our trip. There were many, but this was perfect. We rented a car from Rome FCO on Dec 26 around 1... More

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See 4 more reviews by DoubleD1969 for Siena
Milan, Italy
Senior Contributor
32 reviews 32 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
84 helpful votes 84 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 1 January 2013

I have visited religious places around the world but this instills feelings of awe and mysticism that I had rarely experienced before. I recommend visiting at dusk, possibly off-season, when the place is empty and one can stand and look around in silence, immersed in the magic atmosphere that the place generates.

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Rome, Italy
Top Contributor
382 reviews 382 reviews
141 attraction reviews
Reviews in 94 cities Reviews in 94 cities
193 helpful votes 193 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 October 2012

After seeing the fascinating ruins of the church, must see San Galgano's sword in the rock, a five minute walk to the'Eremo di Montesiepi where San Galgano - as the legend says - got rid of his sword by inserting it in a huge stone.

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Cologne, Germany
Top Contributor
51 reviews 51 reviews
19 attraction reviews
Reviews in 18 cities Reviews in 18 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 October 2012

We traveled out to San Galgano on an afternoon in October, so it was not very busy. We were shocked at the large parking lot there where I imagine tour buses pull in. We were fortunate that there were none there on this day. It was a nice way to spend time wondering around just taking in the architecture and... More

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See 3 more reviews by 54jls for Siena
Milan, Italy
Top Contributor
221 reviews 221 reviews
38 attraction reviews
Reviews in 60 cities Reviews in 60 cities
73 helpful votes 73 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 14 October 2012

tranquillity, a beautiful place which inspires reflection . a unique visit, coupled with the romanesque church up the hill. pity that the Lorenzetti frescos in this second church are quite hard to see in terms of lighting ,distance from the visitor

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See 2 more reviews by nicolas s for Siena
London,UK
Top Contributor
86 reviews 86 reviews
20 attraction reviews
Reviews in 42 cities Reviews in 42 cities
56 helpful votes 56 helpful votes
2 of 5 stars Reviewed 21 September 2012

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... More

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