On a hill next to the Abbey is a small circular Romanesque church dedicated to Saint Galgano.

In the middle of this church stands a sword driven into a block of stone.

It’s said that in 1100 the weary knight Galgano Giudotti plunged his sword into the rock to create a cross with the sword’s handle at which he could pray. At that moment the Archangel Michael appeared to him. From then onwards Galgano lived as a hermit.

If you are in this area, it’s worth paying a visit to the small town village of Massa Marittima with its  magnificent dome and town hall and the Mineral Museum.