Abbadia San Salvatore

The village of Abbadia San Salvatore traces its origins to a legend: it is said that a celestial vision led a Lombard king, Rachis, to commission the construction of a church around which the entire town grew. This event occurred in the year 743 AD, and the church is now known as the Abbey of San Salvatore.

With centuries of history, the Abbey stands as the heart of the village. For many years, it housed the oldest Latin sacred manuscript, known as the Amiatine Bible. Adjacent to the church lies the striking crypt, a mysterious place featuring 32 columns, each unique and of unknown origin.The medieval village’s prosperity was also due to its location along the ancient communication route, the Via Francigena, and the discovery of cinnabar deposits, from which mercury is extracted. Mining activity transformed Abbadia into a mining center, becoming the economic hub of the area and driving its growth.

Following the closure of the mine, the area now hosts the Mining Museum Park, a museum complex that immerses visitors in the region’s mining tradition through an immersive journey and a visit to the underground gallery.