Badia a Passignano (Abbazia di San Michele Arcangelo)

Badia a Passignano is a Vallombrosan abbey above the vineyards of the Pesa valley. Its fortified walls enclose a monastic complex whose church and refectory preserve works by Renaissance artists, including Domenico Ghirlandaio's Last Supper.

Why it matters

The abbey was among the early houses of the Vallombrosan congregation. Its founder, Giovanni Gualberto, died here on 12 July 1073, and his tomb is in the church. The complex remains home to a Vallombrosan monastic community.

What to notice

The refectory's Last Supper was painted by Domenico Ghirlandaio in 1476, with his brother David. In the church of San Michele, frescoes by Alessandro Allori and Domenico Cresti, known as il Passignano, reflect later phases of the complex. Crenellated walls and corner towers give the abbey a fortified silhouette.

Context and history

Tradition places the abbey's foundation around 890 and names Sichelmo as its founder. The community adopted the reform of Giovanni Gualberto in the eleventh century. The church was rebuilt from the late sixteenth century. After suppression in 1866 and a period as a private residence, Vallombrosan monks returned in 1986.