Great Historical Abbey From The 11th Century In The Hills Of Chianti

The historical origins of the Abbazia di Montescalari are lost in antiquity. Historians agree that it was the fourth abbey after Vallombrosa, founded by San Giovangualberto, and they date its foundation to around 1040. Emanuele Repetti recalls that it was already a ‘monastery of secular clergy’ when, in January 1040, the nobles of the nearby castle of Cintoia offered these conventuals various plots of land in the vicinity. It was probably after these donations that S. Giovangualberto introduced the rule of the Vallombrosani there. Prior Fedele Soldani, a Vallombrosian and founder of Badia a Coltibuono, mentions the year 1038 as the date of the foundation of Montescalari, but we do not know on what documents he based this claim.

Like other large monastic estates, the abbey was subjugated by the Republic of Florence, a real misfortune for the large and wealthy abbeys. This decree was issued by the Florentine Republic itself on 14 May 1455. However, over the following two centuries, the abbey was able to resume its role as a centre of power. This power centre is also demonstrated by the numerous works created by the Florentine Renaissance on behalf of the monks, including the now lost bronze bell by Verrocchio, a crucifixion attributed to Bernardo di Stefano Rosselli from the late 1400s, numerous traces of frescoes, probably dating from the first half of the 14th century, which have been covered by posthumous layers of paint and are yet to be fully evaluated and studied, and the coat of arms attributed to Luca Della Robbia.

The 14th and 17th centuries were very turbulent for the entire Vallombrosian Order, and this good fortune allowed the monks of Montescalari to renovate and enlarge the entire complex. In 1930, the abbey was auctioned off and purchased by the noble Rosselli Del Turco family, who owned it until the early 1990s; today, the abbey is privately owned.

The Abbey of Montescalari consists of three floors (ground floor, upper floor and basement) and is mainly built of stone, brick and wood.
There are two courtyards, one of which has a stone fountain with finishes depicting the abbey’s coat of arms, and a loggia that extends along two of the four sides of the structure.

Worth mentioning are the huge stables in the basement, the large salon leading to a magnificent garden, and the church, which was bombed during the Second World War and partially rebuilt in 1945.

The property also includes two farmhouses located about 100 meters from the abbey.

The abbey covers approximately 5,000 m² and the two farmhouses approximately 1,000 m² (gross floor area).

The buildings are in need of complete restoration. The estimated investment for the restoration of the entire abbey is approximately €10,000,000, depending on the scope of the work.

The complex is surrounded by approximately 100 hectares of its own woodland.
As an OPTION, approximately 380 hectares of adjacent land, mainly woodland, with 3 ruins (1,650 m²) can be purchased.

Equipped with: Electricity, own well water, fireplace, private parking, terrace, garden.

G total energy performance: >175 kWh/m²*a

Buyer’s commission: 3.66% (3% plus 22% VAT) of the purchase price.

Property M3235