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The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. All the wealth, including the roof, was sold.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. All the wealth, including the roof, was sold.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. All the wealth, including the roof, was sold.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. But the main secret of this place is the sword stuck in the stone. Legends say that it was the sword of a knight named Galgano Guioti, who was led to the Montecity hill by visions. A miracle happened here: the sword easily entered the stone - and remained there forever. Knight Galgano renounced his worldly pursuits, became a hermit, and in the 12th century was canonized.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. But the main secret of this place is the sword stuck in the stone. Legends say that it was the sword of a knight named Galgano Guioti, who was led to the Montecity hill by visions. A miracle happened here: the sword easily entered the stone - and remained there forever. Knight Galgano renounced his worldly pursuits, became a hermit, and in the 12th century was canonized.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. But the main secret of this place is the sword stuck in the stone. Legends say that it was the sword of a knight named Galgano Guioti, who was led to the Montecity hill by visions. A miracle happened here: the sword easily entered the stone - and remained there forever. Knight Galgano renounced his worldly pursuits, became a hermit, and in the 12th century was canonized.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. But the main secret of this place is the sword stuck in the stone. Legends say that it was the sword of a knight named Galgano Guioti, who was led to the Montecity hill by visions. A miracle happened here: the sword easily entered the stone - and remained there forever. Knight Galgano renounced his worldly pursuits, became a hermit, and in the 12th century was canonized.

The Abbey of San Galgano was built in the 13th century around the site of the former hermitage of Galgano Guidotti (San Galgano), experienced a period of great wealth and prosperity, and in the 15th century began to decline. But the main secret of this place is the sword stuck in the stone. Legends say that it was the sword of a knight named Galgano Guioti, who was led to the Montecity hill by visions. A miracle happened here: the sword easily entered the stone - and remained there forever. Knight Galgano renounced his worldly pursuits, became a hermit, and in the 12th century was canonized. The sarcophagus with the sword said to have been driven into a stone by Galgano is inside of this chapel

The son of a feudal lord, Galgano became a knight, and is said to have led a riotous life. But once, according to legend, an invisible angel lifted him to his feet and led him to the hill of Monte Siepi. In a vision, he saw a round temple on the hill, with Jesus and Mary surrounded by the Apostles. The angel urged him to repent his sins, but Galgano protested that he could no more do this than to split a rock with a sword. To prove his point, he drew his blade and thrust at the stony ground, but the sword slid easily into the living rock, where it remains stuck fast to this day. The sarcophagus with the sword said to have been driven into a stone by Galgano is inside of this chapel

The son of a feudal lord, Galgano became a knight, and is said to have led a riotous life. But once, according to legend, an invisible angel lifted him to his feet and led him to the hill of Monte Siepi. In a vision, he saw a round temple on the hill, with Jesus and Mary surrounded by the Apostles. The angel urged him to repent his sins, but Galgano protested that he could no more do this than to split a rock with a sword. To prove his point, he drew his blade and thrust at the stony ground, but the sword slid easily into the living rock, where it remains stuck fast to this day. The sarcophagus with the sword said to have been driven into a stone by Galgano is in the center of the hall