Built in the thirteenth century, the Abbey is Gothic style, the fact is an exception in Tuscany, where at this time the churches were built in the Romanesque style. The unusual architecture reflects the origins of French monks.
The Cistercians refused contact with the worldliness and shared the life of prayer and work.At the end of the fourteenth century, the abbey was sacked by John Hawkwood and in 1652 the abbey was dissolved and the church fell into disrepair and has never been consecrated.
On a hill overlooking the abbey stands the church of San Galgano, where Galgano's sword is tucked into a stone inside the circular oratory. The stone walls of the side chapel are covered with frescoes with scenes of life of San Galgano.
The style of the little church , that is prior and not far to the abbey is Romanesque characterized by a succession of colored bands alternating red and white; the same succession of colors is repeated in the dome .
This particular decoration , both of the walls and the dome, expressed through symbols, refer to the Templars. It is envisioned that the Knights Templar have made up their base in Tuscany to search for the Holy Grail. On the sword was conducted metallographic investigation that has certified its authenticity as a weapon of the twelfth century.