Abbadia San Salvatore - Abbey of the Saviour

The Abbadia di San Salvatore (Abbey of the Savior), which has given its name to the town, is one of the oldest religious houses in Tuscany and was in its day one of the wealthiest and most celebrated in Italy. Of the abbey founded in 743 by the Lombard chieftain Rachis and occupied successively by Benedictines, Camaldolese (Camáldoli) and Cistercians there survives only the church (originally 11th century). It has a notable facade with two towers (the right-hand one unfinished), but has been much rebuilt and restored, not always entirely to good effect.