Badia a Coltibuono

The “abbey of good culture” was established in 1051 By San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the Vallombrosan order and patron saint of the foresters, rangers and parks. The Vallombrosans may have been the first to cultivate Sangiovese in Tuscany. The name Coltibuono implies a duality of purpose. An ancient badia, or abbey, holds a special place in the history of Western Europe. During the Middle Ages, these abbeys served not only as places of worship and spiritual refuge, but also as centers of learning, engines for economic growth, and laboratories for agricultural development.