Montalcino - Abbadia Ardenga

The Abbadia Ardenga (aka Badia Ardenga) was founded in the 11th century. Soon after the erection of the abbey church, dedicated to Saint Andrew will have started. In 1464, after more than 3 centuries of prospering development, the abbey was suppressed, for unknown reasons, by Pope Pius II.

The place seemed to be "private", so I knocked at some doors. Nobody was "at home". But then I found the door of the church open!!

I had learned from a sign, that the church once had a nave, two aisles and three apses, but only the central nave still existed.

If this is the nave, than the church must once have been have been a pretty wide basilica. In the right corner is a stair leading down to the crypt.