Abbazia di San Fedele

The Abbey of San Fedele stands at the northern end of Poppi's medieval borgo, close to the castle. Its Romanesque church and crypt preserve the history of a monastic community that began at Strumi before moving into the town.

Why it matters

The abbey was first documented at Strumi in 992 and later adopted the Vallombrosan rule. It became a religious counterpart to the Guidi castle, and for centuries the presbytery served as the burial place of the ruling family. The crypt is associated with Beato Torello, Poppi's patron saint.

What to notice

The church follows a Latin-cross plan with three rectangular chapels in the transept. Bands of pale and dark stone decorate the triumphal arch, apse windows and crypt. The bell tower is thought to incorporate a former defensive tower. The church's altars hold paintings from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries, including a crucifix associated with the school of Giotto.

Context and history

The Guidi founded the original abbey at Strumi. The community moved to Poppi in the late twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and by the 1260s the new monastery stood within the enlarged town walls. The Guidi family burials remained in the church until 1568. The abbey was suppressed in 1810; restoration in 1930–33 recovered its Romanesque appearance.