Discover Castelnuovo Dell'abate

Castelnuovo dell’Abate is a medieval village in a commanding position above the Val d’Orcia and Sant’Antimo Abbey. It originated as a military outpost to protect the abbey.

Village and landscape

Castelnuovo dell’Abate lies on a hill overlooking the banks of the Orcia River, with woods and vineyards surrounding the village. Sant’Antimo Abbey is located near the village in the valley of the Starcia stream, a tributary of the Orcia. It is nine kilometres from Montalcino. This brings together the village’s elevated position and the abbey’s location in the valley in a single destination. If you also include Montalcino in your travel plans, the distance provides a concrete point of reference.

In the village, the Pieve dei Santi Filippo e Giacomo is a point of interest. It is a distinct destination within the village, while Sant’Antimo is nearby in the valley. This distinction helps you consider the village and the abbey as separate focal points for a stay.

Sant’Antimo: tours and culture

The “La Via della Luce” tour takes visitors through the Carolingian Chapel, the crypt, the upper loggia, the monastery pharmacy and the San Benedetto garden with a video guide. Reservations are requested for the tour. These stops give a visit to the abbey a specific focus if you would like to explore its rooms and garden on this guided tour.

The abbey organises Gregorian chant courses for individuals and groups. They include an overnight stay at the monastic guesthouse in Castelnuovo dell’Abate and are led by nationally renowned teachers. Concerts of sacred and classical music follow an annual calendar, with professional artists and orchestras taking part. The formats differ in how they are planned: reservations are requested for the tour, concerts follow the dates in the annual calendar, and the courses combine Gregorian chant with an overnight stay at the guesthouse. If you would like to attend a concert, check the dates before travelling.

Visitors to the Giardino Santa Ildegarda will find medicinal herbs grouped according to the conditions they are associated with. The garden offers a distinct feature alongside the video guide and musical events. It provides another way to explore the abbey’s themes, this time through medicinal herbs and how they are grouped.

A break and a regional cycling perspective

Opposite the church of Sant’Antimo Abbey is the Area Pic Nic, with wooden tables and benches. It is available for a packed lunch or a rest after an excursion to the abbey. If you plan to take a break, bringing your own food is the relevant consideration: the area is intended for a packed lunch or for resting after a visit to the abbey.

Cycling tourism is also part of the Val d’Orcia: Orso on Bike is active on its white gravel roads and the surrounding trails. This offers a regional perspective on the landscape that differs from visiting the village and abbey. If you are interested in cycling, you can include this connection to the Val d’Orcia in your travel plans alongside the area’s cultural attractions.

Choose your stay to suit your plans

When looking for a hotel, you can first decide what you want your stay to focus on: the medieval village and the Pieve, the abbey’s tour and cultural programme, or cycling tourism in the Val d’Orcia. This lets you tailor your search to the reason for your trip and decide which aspect of the destination matters most to you.

Discover other destinations: Torrenieri, Lama, Sant'angelo In Colle.

Go to the main travel overview: Montalcino.