The history of Abbadia Ardenga is ancient and moved and plounges its roots in the highest Middle Age as, in the 11th century was founded the Monastery of Ardenga by a French Earl from Ranieri.
The Monastery was partly destroyed as well as it occurred in many villages of Siena countryside in the Middle Age. In the romanic Church of Saint Andrea in Abbadia Ardenga many elements of dated architecture wer found, but the finding of over two thirds of an ancient crypt is surely the most important and impressive. It deals with a crypt at seven naves and two of them occupy the whole width of the Church. In the vaults there is a decoration made up of ancient pictorial motifs, maybe the sole existing in the whole Siena area. The bell tower is very interesting bell gabble dated of 1300, the columns bent towards the outside of the curch are the feature that captures the curiosity
The Cellar
The rooms that nowadays make up the Abbadia Ardenga cellar ever since the Etruscan-Roman period laid at the centre of roads of great communication. In that place one of the first towers for lookout and defense was built up. The Torre Nera, so called for the colour of its stones, dominated a long road segment towards both Roma and Siena. It ideally shared the Asso Valley and the Arbia Valley.
In 990 the Archbishop of Canterbury (Sigerico) during its trip back from Roma to London stood there. The Abbadia Ardenga cellar use to receive groups by 8 to 130 units, further to booking written made a few days before. The receivings can be made in holidays or the day before.
The receiving has the following development: welcoming in the park of the firm or under a covered area in case of rainy days, where you can admire the vineyards, the town of Montalcino and the wonderful Tuscan hills.
Tasting of a wine with appetizers; guided visit of the cellar and the museum where you can observe the tools of the peasant age.
Tasting of E.V.O. Oil DOP “Terre di Siena” with bread and red IGT Wine (Geographic Indication of origin).
Tasting of Montalcino DOC Red Wine with bread and ham.
Tasting of Brunello di Montalcino wine with Pecorino cheese (sheep).
Tastino of grape of Brunello “Vintage” with dry Tuscan Biscuits (cantucci)
For the guided visit of the “Museum Cellar of Montalcino” you need one or two hours.
How to get there
