Chiusure: Monastic Art, Village History and Calanchi

Chiusure can be explored from two sides: the Calanchi reach the edge of the village, and the village’s history is connected with a medieval castle. From the village’s panoramic terrace, the view opens out over the Calanchi formations. A specific vista and a landscape whose geological character can be described in greater detail thus come together.

The Calanchi and the village’s history

The Geosito Naturalistico dei Calanchi di Chiusure e Monte Oliveto Maggiore consists of clay and sand dating from the Pliocene, around four million years ago. The Calanchi are therefore not only a striking landscape feature, but also a geological subject that can be connected to the village setting. The panoramic terrace offers a view of the formations; if you venture into the Calanchi, stay on the paths. Do not leave them: the walls are unstable, the material crumbles easily, and the slopes can drop away almost vertically.

The castle’s history also tells of how the village changed. Chiusure’s medieval castle collapsed into the badlands in the 15th century. The residents rebuilt it on an adjacent promontory, creating today’s village of Chiusure. This sequence presents the collapse and reconstruction as two distinct chapters: the castle was lost to the terrain, while its rebuilding on the promontory was connected with the creation of the present-day village.

Monastic art at Monte Oliveto Maggiore

The church of Monte Oliveto Maggiore was built at the beginning of the 15th century. In the Great Cloister, 35 large frescoes depict scenes from the life of Saint Benedict. They were painted first by Luca Signorelli and later by Antonio Bazzi, known as Il Sodoma. Taking time to explore the cloister allows you to encounter the paintings as part of a shared narrative: the life of Saint Benedict is at its centre, while the names of the two painters also reveal the sequence in which the work was carried out.

Monastic life also includes a convent Mass with Gregorian chant. If you plan to attend, check the liturgical schedule on the official website beforehand, as times may change. Another facet of the monastery’s tradition is Flora di Monteoliveto liqueur: the monks make it using 23 herbs, following a recipe from the old monastic pharmacy; it is aged for more than six months.

Plan your visit and choose what to focus on

You can get information about admission to the abbey and guided visits by email at infovisite@monteolivetomaggiore.it, or by phone and WhatsApp on 342 0538090. Before making plans, check both the contact details and the liturgical schedule again on the official website.

When choosing where to stay and planning your trip, it helps to start by deciding what you want to focus on. In Chiusure, the village’s history and views of the Calanchi take centre stage; at Monte Oliveto Maggiore, there is also the church, the frescoes, the convent Mass and the monastic tradition of making products.

Discover more destinations: Monte Sante Marie, Palazzina, Arbia.

Return to the main travel overview: Asciano.