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The history of Abbadia Ardenga is old and eventful and it is deeply rooted in the Middle Ages when, in the XI century, the Monastery of Abbadia Ardenga was founded by a French Count of the Ranieri Family.
The Monastery was partly destroyed as most of the siret during the Middle Ages.

In the Romanic church of Sant’Andrea ( Saint Andrew ) of Abbadia Ardenga many important architectonical elements have been found.
The most important is the discovery of a part of a crypt with seven aisles. Two of these take up the whole width of the church. The vaults are decorated with floreal motifs.

The bell-tower with its columns turned towards outside of the church will draw your attention as soon as you enter the church.



Old corbels, representing some animal’s head, decorate the simple portal ( doorway ) made in travertine, others support the coat-of-arms on the façade of the church.

Some of the works found in the church of Abbadia Ardenga are displayed in the Picture-Gallery of Siena :
a Romanic painting dated 1215 belonging to the Sienese School and some small boards representing events of the passion of Christ dated 1275-1280 painted by Guido da Siena.

In 1464 the Abbey was deconsecrated, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II, through a Bull, during his stay at the thermal Spa of Petriolo.

It is said that the friars hid a golden bell before Pope Pius II took away all their possessions.

The church of the estate wields a mystic and mysterious spell.