Abbey of Sant'Antimo ~ going medieval

 Thursday's afternoon excursion was three-fold: a visit to a medieval abbey, a degustazione of Brunello, and a quick walking tour of Montalcino.

The Abbey of Sant'Antima is very extraordinary.  It is one of the most interesting medieval monastic sites as it was founded by Charlemagne (Emperor of the Carolingian Empire in the 8th and 9th centuries who was largely responsible for uniting central and western Europe to tidy things up religiously and politically after the fall of the Western Roman Empire.  But more than anything, he is remembered for his tidying up practices in the scriptoriums, introducing the infamous CAROLINGIAN MINISCULE!!  Please press geek alarm.)  The abbey became a stop on the Via Francigena, the pilgrimage route from Canterbury to Rome.  

As you can see, it is Romanesque Splendor!  A central nave, thick walls, Roman arches, few windows.  Glorious medieval beasts and creatures carved in the columns, smacking their lips as they look down on the monks during vespers.  It is all so easy to imagine!  It is constructed of travertine and marble.  Such a wonderful duet of stone.  The marble is greenish in hue and has developed a sheen.  

Molto bello!

Our art history group is made up of a Finnish woman, Ava,  (a tiny little creature who has a penchant for Latin), a French woman, Annetta, (lives in Strasbourg, is retired, teaches refugees French, very simpatica), and Mickey (a retired American professor whose family comes from Puglia), and ME (a student of the world, traveler, ever curious, day dreaming, chocolate loving, aspiring Italian speaker).