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The Crete Senesi and the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
The tour closest to the Grancia, among the clay hills: Asciano, Chiusure and the Benedictine abbey of Monte Oliveto.
Crete Senesi · the Crete landscape, a Benedictine abbey
- km in all
- 35
- of driving
- 1 h
- the whole day, stops included
- 3 h 15
- stops
- 3
A whole morning in the Crete Senesi, among clay hills, gullies and biancane, while the light is still low over the fields. Distances are short, just over 35 km in all, so there is time to look around. Asciano lies on the Via Lauretana, the pilgrim route that reaches the Grancia.
The day
Driving times are Google Maps' without traffic; the stops are the ones we suggest. Leave around 9 and you will be back in the early afternoon.
Leave the Grancia
10 min by car · 7.3 km
Ascianosuggested stop about 45 min
15 min by car · 9.6 km
Chiusuresuggested stop about 20 min
10 min by car · 2.1 km
Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggioresuggested stop about 1 h 15
25 min by car · 16 km
Back at the Grancia
The stops
from La Grancia · 7.3 km · about 10 min
Asciano
Via LauretanaStrade Bianche: Monte Sante Marie about 7 km away
The old town is best explored on foot, with a stroll along Corso Matteotti. Here stands the Torre della Mencia, the civic tower, which still looks as it did in the 16th century. The Basilica of Sant'Agata, built from the 11th century onwards, is well worth a look too. Asciano is on the Via Lauretana: the route comes in from Vescona and continues to Serre di Rapolano, where the stage ends right at the Grancia. From Asciano, the famous Monte Sante Marie climb of the Strade Bianche is about 7 km away.
On foot in Asciano
- Corso Matteotti
- Torre della Mencia
- Basilica of Sant'Agata
Corso Matteotti 
Torre della Mencia 
Basilica of Sant'Agata
from Asciano · 9.6 km · about 15 min
Chiusure
With a short detour you climb to this hamlet of Asciano, where you can look down over the Crete. Since the Middle Ages the area around it has been known as the desert of Accona.
from Chiusure · 2.1 km · about 10 min
Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore
This Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Asciano goes back to 1313, when the Sienese nobleman Bernardo Tolomei chose the place to withdraw with a few companions. In the great cloister the walls are painted with the Stories of Saint Benedict: eight are by Luca Signorelli, almost all the rest by Sodoma. Before you set off, we suggest checking the visiting hours, which the abbey publishes at monteolivetomaggiore.it.
- the frescoed great cloister
- the abbey church
The frescoed great cloister 
The abbey church
from Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore · 16 km · about 25 min
Back to the Grancia
The road home crosses the Crete again and passes through Asciano once more.
Why choose it
The easiest way to get to know the landscape around the Grancia, with a medieval town and an abbey on the way. The stops are close together and there is little driving.
Where to stop
The tour is short: you can be back at the Grancia by lunchtime, or treat yourselves to a coffee in Asciano on the way.
If you love cycling, it is worth adding the hamlet of Monte Sante Marie, in the municipality of Asciano, 15 km from the Grancia: it gives its name to the best-known gravel sector of the Strade Bianche race, 11.5 km dedicated to Fabian Cancellara.
Distances and times are Google Maps' without traffic and are approximate: traffic, parking and stops add to them.
FAQ
How far is the Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore from the Grancia?
About 17 km by car: half an hour's drive and you are at the abbey.
What are the abbey's opening hours?
The abbey publishes them on its website, monteolivetomaggiore.it: it is a good idea to check them before you go.
Is Asciano on the Via Lauretana?
Yes. The second Tuscan stage of the route, from Vescona to Serre di Rapolano, passes through Asciano and ends right at the Grancia.
Set off from the Grancia and come back to it
Four Junior Suites in the old town of Serre di Rapolano: in the evening you come back to the same place, with no need to repack.
Check availability- Photo: opening photo · Gunther Tschuch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Asciano · LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Asciano, Corso Matteotti · LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Asciano, Torre della Mencia · LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Asciano, Basilica of Sant'Agata · LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Chiusure · LigaDue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore · Leo Moser, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, the frescoed great cloister · Holger Uwe Schmitt, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Photo: Abbey of Monte Oliveto Maggiore, the abbey church · Pufui PcPifpef, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
