Monte Oliveto Maggiore

Monte Oliveto Maggiore is a large Benedictine monastery in the Italian region of Tuscany, 10 km south of Asciano. Its buildings, which are mostly of red brick, are conspicuous against the grey clayey and sandy soil—the crete senesi which give this area of Tuscany its name.

It was founded in 1319 or 1320 as Monte Oliveto with reference to the Mount of Olives and in honour of Christ’s Passion. This is the the mother-house of the Olivetans and the monastery later took the name of Monte Oliveto Maggior (‘the greater’) to distinguish it from successive foundations at Florence, San Gimignano, Naples and elsewhere.

The cloister is famous for the series of frescoes illustrating scenes from the legend of St. Benedict begun by Luca Signorelli (1497–1498) and completed by il Sodoma (1502 or 1505). The church and library contain fine inlaid woodwork by Fra Giovanni da Verona.

The monastery is described by Pope Pius II in his Commentaria.

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