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Once, it was an impenetrable place, almost completely overrun with briers, "spinaie" as they are called locally in this extreme southern corner of Tuscany; and it is from this woodland plant known as Spinum that the abbey takes its name of Spineto, Spineta or degli Spineti.
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The Abbey was founded in 1085 and is a fine example of Italian and Tuscan monasticism. It lies in an isolated but strategic position between the Val di Chiana and the Val d’Orcia. Although the architectural conformation which rendered it independent and closed to the outside world has altered slightly through the years, the Abbey is still an imposing sight as it stands alone in the midst of unspoiled countryside.
This was the monastic period: monasteries and abbeys abounded during the mid Medieval period, and along with the large landed estates of the nobility, others belonging to the Church and controlled by the abbots came into existence. Farming and craftsmanship flourished, and in the golden age of monasticism, a form of religious and civil government developed; the Vallombrosian Order, a reformed branch of the Benedictines. Life on the estate and in the Abbey was peaceful, dedicated to religious and farming activities; outside, constant feuding took place between the landowners and it was inevitable that, due to its proximity to the town of Sarteano and its Castle, the Abbey should eventually suffer the effects of these disputes.
The Abbey was first placed under the dominion of the town of Orvieto(1120), it later became a protectorate of the Republic of Siena until it became part of the New State ruled by the Florentine duke Cosimo de’ Medici. In spite of the precarious political situation, the Abbey reached maximum economic splendor during the 12th , 13th and 14th centuries giving rise to the need to defend its possessions by means of the provision of an armed garrison and the fortification of the monastery buildings. Traces showing where crossbows were positioned are still visible in the church. Even during these affluent times the monks adhered strictly to the rules of the Benedictine Order and their high moral stature lead to their being elected as investigators and judges in civil disputes.
In 1627 Pope Urbano VIII took the Abbey from the Vallombrosian Order and entrusted it to the Cistercian Order; it was on this occasion that the Pope gave the Abbey the precious cope which is presently on display in the church. The Abbey remained under the control of the Cistercian Order until the abolition of the smaller monasteries in 1783. From that date onward it survived as a farm taken care of by Cistercian lay brothers, and its administration was entrusted to the Spedale degli Innocenti in Florence. In 1830 the Abbey became private property and has had a succession of owners since then.
Bibliography:
“L’Abbazia di Spineto, storia, architettura, territorio, restauro – la vita mille anni dopo “ by Patrizia Balenci and Federico Franci (Abbazia di Spineto Ed.)
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