Services in Casa Vacanze Tenuta di Papena

The fascinating and verdant countryside is punctuated by peaceful medieval hill villages such as Monticiano and Chiusdino ( with the 12th. C. birthplace of S. Galgano) and by monuments of extraordinary architectural and spiritual tension, such as the 13th. C. Cistercian Gothic abbey of S. Galgano and the nearby hermitage of Montesiepi. The abbey of S. Galgano, a few minutes drive away , was once the chief Cistercian house in Tuscany. An Abbot is said to have sold the lead of the roof to help pay some debts, and the graceful, roofless abbey church is now blessed with excellent acoustic for the frequent concerts held there during the summer. In the 12th century, upon that very spot Galgano, a fierce soldier of fortune, renounced his evil ways and cast his sword into the ground. Galgano was subsequently canonised. The sword is still lodged in the stone, where he cast it and the Abbey was built up around it. Today San Galgano stands as one of the great spots of Medieval romance. The sword in the stone.

You can explore the mountains and the woods, home to a rich flora and fauna, on foot, by horse or bicycle as far as the Etruscan necropolis in a wood on the estate. The owners’ show jumping horses are stabled 300 m. away and it is possible to stable guest’s own horses and use the hall and the ring and obtain show jumping, three day event and dressage lessons from a qualified teacher.