Ava, a noblewoman of the Lambardi di Staggia family founded of the Abbey of S. Salvatore all’Isola in 1001. The place was once surrounded by water - was chosen mainly for its strategic position near the Via Francigena, of which the town constituted a resting place at the end of the 10th century.
During the following centuries, the main functions of the abbey continued to be that of an hospital or a place of respite and hospitality for travellers going to Rome. After its foundation, the monastery had considerable economic and political success until thirteenth century. After the aggregation of the monastery with that of S. Eugenio near Siena, in 1446, a slow decline began.
Situated on the edge of an large plain near the wooded slopes of Mount Maggio, the monastery is dominated by the Romanesque church with three naves and three apses. It is closely surrounded by the remains of a medieval fortification.
Inside the church you can find the beautiful polyptych and other precious works of art,. To the right of the church there are still important remnants of the bell tower and the monastery rooms, set out around the quadrangle of the ancient cloisters. The building , used for a long time as farm storage rooms is currently being restored and, in the future, will host guestrooms and a document centre for the Via Francigena story